Here’s the thing about “The Last of Us” TV series—you can actually just play the two video games and get almost the same experience. The video games are hugely cinematic, and the show has gone to great lengths to replicate quite a few of the pivotal scenes. So, if you want to know what is likely going to happen in Season 2, just play “The Last of Us Part 2.” And many, many people already have, which has been a bit of a blessing and a curse for series showrunners, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. Even though they’re creating something in a whole new medium with “The Last of Us” TV series, there are still people that want it to be incredibly similar to the video game. What does any of this have to do with today? Well, we finally got confirmation who is going to play Abby, one of the most important characters in “The Last of Us” saga, and the discourse surrounding the choice is likely going to be interesting, to say the least.
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According to Variety, Kaitlyn Dever has been cast as Abby in Season 2 of “The Last of Us.” Typically, this would be wonderful news. Dever is one of the best young actors working today, and she is likely going to bring something unique to the role that many people have been anxious to see. Unfortunately, this is an adaptation of a video game franchise with very passionate fans, and when Dever’s name first came up in rumors, people were a bit polarized. And you can hear the proactive defense of the choice in the first statement about Dever.
“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,” said Mazin and Druckmann. “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella and the rest of our family.”
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So, why is Dever such a polarizing choice for Abby? Well, without getting into too many spoilers, the defining physical characteristic of Abby in the video game is that she is big. Like football player, linebacker big. She’s supposed to be physically imposing when she goes toe to toe with Bella Ramsey’s Ellie. And if you’ve ever seen Dever in a film or TV series, physically imposing is not the first thing you think about. 
Again, this is a different medium and these two things don’t have to  be identical. The video game will always exist for those fans who want a specific type of Abby. But in the TV show, it’s going to be interesting to see how they convey Abby’s strength with Dever. Or perhaps they are planning on going in a different direction with the character, further distancing itself from the source material in a new way. We’ll just have to wait and see. 
“The Last of Us” was a massive hit for HBO last year when it debuted, and it’s likely to do well at this year’s Emmys. So, even though a few fans might not be happy with Dever’s casting, there will be plenty of people (this writer included) who are just excited to see such a great performer getting the chance to join an already-amazing show. 
“The Last of Us” Season 2 is expected to begin filming soon and will arrive on HBO probably in early 2025.