Kaitlyn Dever Takes Center Stage as Abby in ‘The Last of Us’ Season Two

LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2025 — The upcoming season of HBO‘s ‘The Last of Us‘ will mark the introduction of Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, a pivotal character from the video game’s sequel, ‘The Last of Us Part II.’ The highly anticipated second season is set to premiere April 13, following the show’s successful debut in January 2023.

Dever, who was originally considered for the role of Ellie when a film adaptation was first discussed a decade ago, reflected on her journey during the series’ LA premiere. “I didn’t even audition. It was only just like meetings I was having with Neil [Druckmann],” Dever explained. “He was showing me how the game was created and definitely giving me spoilers for game II years before it came out.”

She expressed excitement about the new character, noting the personal connection many fans have with the game’s story. “I always thought about it as this thing that I bonded a lot with my dad over; we played the game together,” Dever said. “It felt really cool to come back around into my life with the role of Abby.”

Druckmann, who serves as co-creator of both the game and the show, shared the challenges of casting for the role. “We were actually really nervous about casting Abby because it’s such a pivotal role,” he admitted. However, after seeing Dever’s performance alongside co-stars Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, he noted, “Oh my God, lightning in a bottle again.”

Co-showrunner Craig Mazin highlighted the complexity of Abby’s character, saying they needed an actor who could embody various facets of the role. “Somebody who can stand on her own as the hero, as the villain… Kaitlyn just has this profound nature—there’s a depth there,” Mazin said. “I always say there are actors that you want to hang out with, but then there are actors you want to hug, and she’s both.”

Season two will also see a significant time jump, taking place five years after season one. Joel and Ellie, played by Pascal and Ramsey, respectively, find themselves navigating new relationships and conflicts within their survivor community in Jackson, Wyoming. The storyline will also introduce new characters, including a therapist played by Catherine O'Hara.

Mazin revealed that the idea of having Joel see a therapist was originally considered for the first season. “In a post-apocalyptic world, what would be useful? A therapist is incredibly useful. Everybody who’s left is hurting,” he said.

Addressing the show’s future, Druckmann noted that adapting the expansive narrative of ‘The Last of Us Part II’ would require more than one season. “We know where the story ends, but I couldn’t tell you at this point how many seasons that will take,” he said.

As excitement builds for the second season, fans are eager to see how Dever’s portrayal of Abby will enrich the narrative landscape established in the first season, with expectations for deeper character explorations.