Abby Almost Went to Another Actress

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Summary

  • Laura Bailey’s casting as Abby was initially in doubt due to her widespread recognition in other roles.
  • Santa Monica ultimately chose her for the role because she stood out from the rest.
  • Laura Bailey’s performance was so remarkable that it even sparked outrage among fans who disliked Abby’s actions in the game.

In an interview, the director and creator of “The Last of Us Part 2”, Neil Druckmann, shared that initially, they almost passed on casting Laura Bailey as Abby due to her extensive workload, as she’s featured in numerous projects. Choosing the perfect performer for a vital character like Abby Anderson in “The Last of Us Part 2” was a challenging endeavor, and Santa Monica Studios had to take various factors into account, such as the actress’ fame and recognition.

In The Last of Us Part 2, there is arguably no character more divisive than Abby. While it’s true that many characters in the game have questionable actions, the way the game’s creator handled Abby’s fate and how it affected Joel and Ellie was a major point of contention for some fans. A significant factor contributing to this anger is that Abby becomes the main character, making players take actions against a figure they came to care about in the first game. Laura Bailey gave an outstanding performance as Abby, one that managed to grate on fans’ nerves, despite the director nearly passing her over for the role.

At a recent DICE conference, game creator Neil Druckmann mentioned to Santa Monica Studio’s creative director Cory Barlog that there was a strong possibility another actress would portray Abby. The main reason behind Druckmann’s preference for someone else was because “she’s omnipresent,” highlighting Laura Bailey’s extensive career. Throughout her illustrious acting portfolio, she has breathed life into numerous iconic characters – not just in video games like Naughty Dog’s Uncharted, Mary Jane in Spider-Man, and Lisa Jackson in Days Gone, but also in anime and cartoon series such as Dragon Ball Z, Winx Club, and Regular Show.

Neil Druckmann Didn’t Want Laura Bailey to Play Abby Because ‘She’s in Everything’

As a fan, I understand their apprehensions about how my fame might interfere with the genuine portrayal of Abby in “The Last of Us Part 2.” They feared that viewers would instantly recognize me instead of connecting with Abby’s emotions. This is often a challenge faced when working with well-known actors. However, after thoroughly examining my audition tapes frame by frame, the creators recognized my knack for portraying Abby’s tragic and vulnerable moments. After a team discussion, they decided that I was the ideal choice to bring Abby to life on screen.

The outcome of the decision turned out exceptionally favorable, given Laura Bailey’s numerous praises for portraying Abby in The Last of Us Part 2, and the immense influence her character exerted. It was so substantial that she faced death threats, sparking significant disputes within the The Last of Us fanbase and the gaming community at large. Despite this, Bailey was content with the outcome and has even hinted at wanting to play Abby Anderson once more if the chance arises.

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2025-02-14 18:14