The Last of Us Season 2’s Abby Didn’t Bulk Up Because HBO Didn’t Need to Emulate Certain Video Game Mechanics, Neil Druckmann Says
The HBO adaptation of The Last of Us Part 2 won’t feature Abby as such a muscly character as her role in Season 2 doesn’t need to emulate certain video game mechanics, showrunner and Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has said.
Druckmann and fellow showrunner Craig Mazin told Entertainment Weekly that actress Kaitlyn Dever didn’t need to bulk up for the role because Abby didn’t need to feel as distinct mechanically to Ellie.
“We would’ve struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role,” Druckmann said. “In the game, you have to play both [Ellie and Abby] and we need them to play differently. We needed Ellie to feel smaller and kind of maneuver around, and Abby was meant to play more like Joel in that she’s almost like a brute in the way she can physically manhandle certain things.
“That doesn’t play as big of a role in this version of the story because there’s not as much violent action moment to moment. It’s more about the drama. I’m not saying there’s no action here. It’s just, again, different priorities and how you approach it.”
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Mazin chimed in too: “I personally think there is an amazing opportunity here to delve into someone who is perhaps physically more vulnerable than the Abby in the game, but whose spirit is stronger. And then the question is: ‘Where does her formidable nature come from and how does it manifest?’ That’s something that will be explored now and later.”
The now and later comment likely refers to HBO’s plans to extend The Last of Us Part 2 beyond a single season, unlike the critically acclaimed Season 1 which covered the entirety of the original game. Mazin has said previously that Part 2 features a lot more story to cover, so while Season 3 isn’t greenlit as of yet, they’ve built Season 2 with a “natural breakpoint” after just seven episodes.
Much toxicity surrounds the character of Abby in particular, with some choosing to voice their frustration at the fictional character’s actions by harassing Naughty Dog employees including Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey. This included threats and abuse targeting her, her parents, and her two-year-old son.
HBO was even wary of this reception while filming Season 2, as Dever was given extra security in case of escalated action. “There’s so many strange people in this world because there are people that actually genuinely hate Abby, who is not a real person. Just a reminder: not a real person,” said actress Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in Season 2.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
