HBO Says Kaitlyn Dever Will Play Abby in Season 2 of 'The Last of Us'

The Last of Us, HBO's series that captivated audiences worldwide, has already found its Abby for the upcoming second season, set to begin production. Kaitlyn Dever, renowned for her roles in "Booksmart" and "No One Will Save You," is taking on the challenging starring role alongside Pedro Pascal as Joel, and Bella Ramsey as Ellie.

Abby is one of the pivotal characters of 2020 game "The Last of Us" Part II, described by HBO as "a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved."

Dever is stepping into the series' cast just after it won eight Emmy awards.In total, the show, its crew, and actors have picked up 24 nominations, surpassed only by Succession. Pascal and Ramsey remain contenders for Emmy awards.

Pascal secured a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor In a Drama Series, while Ramsey received a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress In a Drama Series. The winners in these categories will be revealed during the 75th Emmy Awards to be held January 15.

HBO premiered "The Last of Us in January" of 2023, and it swiftly became a hit with viewers. The success led HBO to approve a second season, set to premiere in 2025. This new season will partially adapt the second game in the series, "The Last of Us" Part II.

The Last of Us Season 2: Who's Taking on the Role of Abby?

Kaitlyn Dever is known for her performances in series like "Last Man Standing" ("El último macho," in Spanish) and "Justified," has solidified her presence in television, taking starring roles in Inconceivable and "Dopesick," resulting in nominations at the Golden Globes and Emmy Awards.

She also was a protagonist in some movies like "Booksmart," "Rosaline," "My Golden Days," and "No One Will Save You," which she also executive producer.

The series is a co-production between HBO and Sony Pictures Television, with the collaboration of PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog in the production.

"Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material," shared the show's co-creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, with Variety. "Nothing matters more than talent, and we're thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro [Pascal], Bella [Ramsay] and the rest of our family."

Interestingly, Dever and Druckmann share a collaborative history. In the epilogue of "Uncharted 4," a game co-directed by Druckmann, Dever portrayed Cassie, the daughter of Nathan Drake.