HBO’s The Last of Us received widespread praise for its first season, with its immaculate casting being one of several things it drew praise for- following which, understandably enough, there’s been no shortage of curiosity around how the show will cast some of its most crucial characters for upcoming seasons. One character in particular that’s been at the center of most conversations is, of course, Abby, the deuteragonist of The Last of Us Part 2, and we now officially know who’ll be portraying her in the show’s upcoming second season, which is set to premier in 2025.
Reports emerged in November last year that The Last of Us season 2 was set to cast Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and that’s now been officially confirmed, as reported by Variety. Dever is best known for her roles in Justified, Dopesick, and Last Man Standing, among others, and has, interestingly enough, also collaborated with Naughty Dog in the past, having played Cassie Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
“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 series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann on Dever’s casting. “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.”