The Final of Us Co-Creators Tease How Abby Will Be Completely different within the Sequence Than the Recreation

Probably the most anticipated popular culture returns of 2025 is sort of right here: The Final of Us, HBO’s hit online game adaptation starring Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal. Speaking about season two has been a very delicate matter for these concerned within the sequence, within the curiosity of not spoiling the plot for viewers who may not have performed The Last of Us Part II sport.

However there’s no avoiding sure parts, like the truth that Kaitlyn Dever is becoming a member of the forged to play the key role of Abby. In a brand new interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin talked in regards to the character—rigorously.

Because it seems, Dever has a historical past with The Final of Us, if not particularly with Abby. Again when the sport was being thought-about for a characteristic movie adaptation, Druckmann revealed, actors gathered for an early desk learn—together with Dever, who was then the fitting age for Ramsey’s character, Ellie. They stayed in contact, and “I consider Craig had the thought of utilizing Kaitlyn for Abby once we talked about season two,” Druckmann mentioned. “The rationale we forged Kaitlyn is as a result of she’s an unbelievable actor… We worth efficiency over anything.”

Dever’s abilities will get a exercise enjoying the complicated character, and he or she’ll be placing her personal spin on Abby past what followers of the sport have skilled. The Final of Us showrunners are already attempting to get forward of anybody who desires to complain in regards to the variations between “sport Abby” and “present Abby,” together with the truth that Dever is smaller in stature than Laura Bailey, who portrayed her within the sport.

“There’s not as a lot violent motion second to second,” Druckmann mentioned of the sequence model of the character. “It’s extra in regards to the drama. I’m not saying there’s no motion right here. It’s simply, once more, completely different priorities and the way you method it.”

He continued, very vaguely revealing a tiny bit extra about Abby as a personality. “Whenever you attempt to decide a hero, it’s powerful as a result of we’re human beings, we’re not heroes. For each heroic act, there’s somebody who suffers on the opposite aspect who may even see you fairly as a villain. Whenever you have a look at Kaitlyn, there’s simply one thing in her eyes the place, even it doesn’t matter what she’s experiencing, you join. It was vital that we discovered anyone that we might hook up with the way in which we hook up with Bella.”

Mazin famous that Dever’s Abby is “maybe bodily extra susceptible than the Abby within the sport, however [her] spirit is stronger. After which the query is, ‘The place does her formidable nature come from and the way does it manifest?’ That’s one thing that will likely be explored now and later.”

The Final of Us returns to HBO and Max in April.

Need extra io9 information? Try when to count on the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every little thing you’ll want to learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.