Actress Kaitlyn Dever, cast as Abby in The Last of Us Season 2, acknowledges the difficulty of ignoring online reactions to her portrayal. The character of Abby has been the target of significant online toxicity, with harassment directed at Naughty Dog employees, including Neil Druckmann and Laura Bailey, extending to threats and abuse against Bailey's family. This negative reception prompted HBO to provide Dever with extra security during filming. Isabel Merced, who plays Dina, commented on the disturbing reality of fans directing hatred towards a fictional character, emphasizing that Abby is not a real person.

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In a ScreenRant interview, Dever discussed the anticipation surrounding her portrayal of Abby. She admitted to occasionally checking online responses, driven by a desire to do the character justice and make fans proud. However, her primary focus remained on collaborating with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin to understand Abby's core motivations, emotional state, and the driving forces behind her anger, frustration, and grief.

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Neil Druckmann recently clarified that the HBO adaptation will depict Abby differently from the game. He explained to Entertainment Weekly that Dever didn't need to undergo a significant physical transformation because the show's focus shifts from replicating the game's mechanics to emphasizing the drama and Abby's emotional journey. Druckmann highlighted the importance of finding the right actress for the role, emphasizing that the game's contrasting physicality between Ellie and Abby wasn't as crucial in the show's narrative. Craig Mazin added that this approach allows for exploration of a potentially more physically vulnerable Abby, whose inner strength and formidable nature will be explored throughout the season and potentially beyond.

The possibility of extending the adaptation beyond a single season was also discussed. While Season 3 isn't confirmed, Mazin indicated that Season 2, comprised of seven episodes, concludes with a "natural breakpoint," suggesting plans to adapt more of The Last of Us Part 2's story in future installments.