Okay Last Of Us fans get ready because Season 2 is dropping soon and it's bringing some HUGE changes and a character we've all been waiting for (or maybe dreading?) – Abby! Yep Kaitlyn Dever is officially joining the party as Abby and things are about to get seriously complicated in the apocalypse.
From Ellie to Abby? Kaitlyn Dever's Long Journey to The Last Of Us Universe is Kinda Wild
Here's a fun fact you might not know: Kaitlyn Dever's history with The Last Of Us goes way back. Like way way back to when they were first thinking about making a MOVIE adaptation of the game. Turns out she was actually considered to play Ellie back then! Crazy right?
Dever even met with Neil Druckmann the creator of The Last Of Us game like ten years ago. She went to his video game company Naughty Dog and he showed her how the game was made and even spilled some spoilers for Part II way before it came out. She joked about carrying that secret around for a decade! She didn't even audition for Ellie it was just meetings and talks but still pretty cool.
Even though that movie plan didn't pan out Dever said she and her dad bonded over playing the game together. So when the role of Abby came up for the HBO show it felt like fate in a way. She said it was like "Oh this was always meant to be in my life just in a different way." Talk about a full circle moment!
Why Abby's Backstory is Getting a Remix in Season 2: No More Waiting Game!
If you played The Last Of Us Part II you know Abby's story is revealed in a pretty unique way. You play as Ellie for a good chunk of the game and then BAM the perspective switches and you're suddenly playing as Abby learning her side of things. The show is doing things differently and we are getting some Abby backstory much earlier in Season 2.
Why the change? Well Neil Druckmann explained that it's because TV is different from a video game. In the game you're playing as Abby so you naturally connect with her experience right away. You're surviving as her fighting infected and all that. But in the show we are just watching her not playing her. So they needed a different way to get us invested in Abby's character.
Also Druckmann mentioned that if they stuck to the game's timeline for Abby's reveal viewers would have to wait a LONG time maybe even until later seasons to get her full story. And in the age of internet spoilers they didn't want to risk it all getting leaked. So they decided to move things up and give us context about Abby pretty early on. Get ready to dive into Abby's world sooner than you might expect!
Meet the New Faces (and Returning Favorites) of The Last Of Us Season 2 Cast:
Season 2 is bringing back some familiar faces and Introducing a whole bunch of new characters from The Last Of Us Part II game . Here's a quick cast rundown:
- Kaitlyn Dever as Abby: The highly anticipated Abby Anderson a soldier with a major personal mission.
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie: Back as our girl Ellie now older and facing even tougher choices.
- Pedro Pascal as Joel: Joel returns but things are definitely not easy between him and Ellie.
- Gabriel Luna as Tommy: Joel's brother Tommy is also back in the mix.
- Rutina Wesley as Maria: Maria leader of the Jackson community is returning too.
- Isabela Merced as Dina: Get ready to meet Dina Ellie's close friend and more.
- Young Mazino as Jesse: Another key member of the Jackson group Jesse who has history with Dina.
- Catherine O’Hara as Gail: A brand new character created for the show Gail who is Joel's therapist in Jackson. Intriguing right?
- Jeffrey Wright as Isaac: Isaac leader of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) a character from the game.
- Danny Ramirez as Manny, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Ariela Barer as Mel, and Spencer Lord as Owen: Abby's crew from the WLF all important players in her story.
This cast is stacked and ready to bring The Last Of Us Part II to life! Prepare for some intense performances.
Tears Ahead? Season 2 Teased to be Even More Emotional and "Heartbreaking"
If you thought Season 1 of The Last Of Us was emotional get ready for round two because Season 2 is promising to crank up the feels even more. Showrunner Craig Mazin teased that they needed an actress for Abby who could make us "connect to them in this deep way" someone who could be "the hero the villain someone we love someone we’re confused by." That sounds like a rollercoaster of emotions.
Mazin also hinted at a scene in the final episode of the season that is "quite impactful in the game" but they've evolved it for the show in a way that "blows me away." Bella Ramsey who plays Ellie said that "some of the stuff in the last episode particularly the last two episodes are some of my favorite favorite favorite things to film and also I think to hopefully to watch." "Favorite" might be a strong word for something that's likely to be super sad but you know what they mean. Stock up on tissues folks it's gonna be a tearjerker.
Mark Your Calendars: The Last Of Us Season 2 Release Date is Closer Than You Think!
After what feels like forever of waiting the official release date for The Last Of Us Season 2 is finally here: April 13th 2025 on HBO and Max. That's just around the corner! Get ready to return to the brutal and beautiful world of The Last Of Us and experience the next chapter of Joel and Ellie's journey with Abby and all the new challenges that await them.
Key Things to Know About The Last Of Us Season 2:
- Kaitlyn Dever joins as Abby: The actress who was once considered for Ellie is now playing the pivotal role of Abby.
- Earlier Abby Backstory: The show is revealing Abby's backstory much earlier than in the game to build connection and avoid spoilers.
- 5-Year Time Jump: Season 2 picks up five years after Season 1 with Ellie and Joel in Jackson Wyoming.
- New and Returning Cast: Familiar faces like Joel Ellie and Tommy return alongside new characters Dina Jesse Abby and more.
- Emotional Story Ahead: Expect an even more intense and emotionally impactful season than the first.
- Release Date: April 13 2025 on HBO and Max: Get ready to tune in next April!
Get Ready to Dive Back In: The Last Of Us Season 2 is Coming Soon!
So yeah The Last Of Us Season 2 is shaping up to be something seriously special and seriously intense. With Abby's arrival major story changes a fantastic cast and a promise of even more emotional gut punches it's going to be a wild ride. Mark your calendars for April 13th and prepare yourselves because things are about to get real in the world of The Last Of Us. Are you ready?