The Last of Us Season 2 star Kaitlyn Dever opens up about nearly portraying Ellie in one planned adaptation of the video game that fizzled out.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Dever explained how close she came to starring in a feature film adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us that didn’t end up getting made. «I had met with [The Last of Us co-creator] Neil [Druckman] years ago to potentially play Ellie,» Dever recalled. Although she didn’t get the part, she did work with Naughty Dog again later on, this time doing voice work and motion capture for Uncharted 4. On coming back around to The Last of Us as Abby, she said, «I’m still shocked to this day that it happened this way.»
Dever portrays Abby in The Last of Us Season 2, one of the members of the militia group known as the Fireflies who has her sights set on Joel for having killed her father at the end of the first game. Dever described her character, explaining, «The way into Abby is knowing how grief feels and how loss affects you, especially in the immediate aftermath. There’s just this shock and this desire to make it all go away… She just needs something to make it all better»
The Last of Us Season 2 Has Arrived
The Last of Us Season 2 premiered on HBO on April 13 with the episode «Future Days,» which finds Pedro Pascal’s Joel explaining to Bella Ramsey’s Ellie exactly what kind of threat the Fireflies pose. The second season also features a five-year time-skip, which provides plenty of room to introduce new characters, concepts, and interpersonal drama to the mix. Upon its release, «Future Days» was lauded by critics and audiences alike, who hailed the episode as a smashing return for the fan-favorite series.
The Last of Us Season 2 brings with it a whole host of new featured actors beyond Dever as Abby. Among these new stars are Catherine O’Hara in the role of Gail, Ariela Barer as Mel, Spencer Lord as Owen, Robert John Burke as Seth, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Dixon, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s own Danny Ramirez as Manny. The second season also introduces Isabela Merced and Young Mazino as Ellie’s new friends, Dina and Jesse, the former of whom also provides a romantic interest for Ramsey’s Ellie.
Speaking to CBR, Merced discussed her character’s impact on the series and her attraction to Ellie, even beyond mere romantic interest. «I think she’s extremely caring and extremely invested and devoted to Ellie before there was romantic involvement as well,» Merced stated. «I think she guides Ellie in a lot of ways and brings a light to everyone that she’s around.»
The Last of Us is currently available for streaming on Max.
