After months of speculations about who should play Abby in The Last of Us, HBO finally made things official. Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever will join Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the second season of the acclaimed video game adaptation.
Dever’s heroine Abby was introduced in The Last of Us Part II, as the second playable character alongside Ellie. Her character has been described as “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.”
The Last of Us creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said that their casting process involved looking for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material, and Dever perfectly fit the bill.
“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,” said the duo in a statement.
Dever had a great track record long before being cast in The Last of Us. In addition to scoring an Emmy nod for her role in Hulu’s mini-series Dopesick, she also appeared in Justified, Last Man Standing, and Unbelievable. Her filmography also includes roles in movies Booksmart, Dear Evan Hansen, Ticket to Paradise, and Short Term 12.
