Kaitlyn Dever’s Surprising Connection to The Last of Us

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Summary

  • The Last of Us Season 2 will feature new characters like Abby, Dina, and Jesse, set in a darker world.
  • Season 2 timeline changes show a strained relationship between Joel and Ellie 5 years after the first season.
  • Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, found her role surreal, admiring the show, and the opportunity to join The Last of Us.

The long-awaited second season of “The Last of Us” is about to begin, turning Sundays into eagerly anticipated days for followers of the post-apocalyptic series. Prior to this, Kaitlyn Dever (portraying Abby) discusses her audition for the role of Ellie in the abandoned film adaptation and the unique feeling of being part of the TV series years later. The second season’s return on HBO is poised to delve deeply into Naughty Dog’s video game sequel, which unfolds four years after the events of the first game. This time, viewers will be introduced to new characters such as Abby Anderson, Dina, Jesse, and Gail (who were not in the games), and they can expect a more ominous, sinister world than previously depicted.

In the second season of “The Last of Us”, there will be a significant shift in the storyline compared to the game. Unlike the first season, Joel (portrayed by Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (portrayed by Bella Ramsey) are depicted five years later. However, their once harmonious bond appears to have deteriorated. In the closing moments of Season One’s finale, Joel and Ellie arrive at Jackson, but before they enter the town, Ellie presses him to promise that everything he had told her about what occurred in the Fireflies hospital was truthful. After swearing it to be so, Ellie seems hesitant before the screen goes black, marking the end of the season.

Kaitlyn Dever Opens Up About Joining Season 2 and The Last of Us Scrapped Movie

During a press event for the upcoming season of The Last of Us, Kaitlyn Dever (who portrays Abby Anderson) shared her feelings about joining the TV show after previously auditioning for the scrapped film version where she aimed for the role of Ellie. Dever admitted that she’s long been a devoted fan of The Last of Us, tracing her fandom back to when she played the game with her father, describing it as a significant bonding experience.

Regarding Ellie’s role in Sony’s abandoned adaptation of The Last of Us film, Dever expressed, “Things destined for your life will occur when they should”, implying that it wasn’t the right moment for her to be part of the series during the table readings. However, more than a decade later, fortune intervened and presented another opportunity for her, this time as Abby.

Speaking about HBO’s The Last of Us, Dever praised showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for their exceptional work in Season one. She expressed her admiration by saying, “It was simply enchanting. It was truly a delight to watch.” Furthermore, she shared that the series had long been intriguing for her, particularly after playing the games, and when given the chance to join the franchise, Dever described it as an almost unreal experience. She added that embodying Abby “felt like a perfect fit.

It was quite extraordinary, given my deep-seated fandom for the series. The first season, crafted by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, was nothing short of enchanting. It was a masterpiece, truly captivating. We had bonded over the game years ago with my father, and to revisit it now felt like a dream come true. To see this story return after more than a decade, it was as if fate had brought it back into my life. Abby, in particular, resonated deeply, making me feel that things destined for us eventually materialize.

The Last of Us Season 2 will premiere exclusively on HBO and Max on April 13.

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2025-04-02 16:26