Kaitlyn Dever will join the cast of The Last of Us for season two.
HBO announced on Monday that the 26-year-old actress, who is in Australia shooting a Netflix series, will join the Emmy winning series as Abby, according to Variety.
Abby is described as ‘a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved,’ according to a description released by HBO.
‘So excited to join the family ❤️’ the star wrote next to an article announcing the news on social media.
Bella Ramsey, 20, who stars as Ellie in the gritty zombie-themed show, shared a photo of the new addition writing, ‘Welcome my friend.’
Kaitlyn Dever, 26, has been cast as Abby for season two The Last of Us HBO/MAX announced Monday. Pictured in Los Angeles in September 2022
Pedro Pascal also welcomed her by shared a photo of Kaitlyn in his Instagram Stories.
They are two survivors of a global pandemic that has turned humans into zombies. Bella’s character Ellie, has an immunity to zombie bites and her body may hold the secret for humanity’s survival. Pedro’s Joel has been tasked with keeping her safe.
Abby is considered one of the most polarizing characters from the video games on which the series is based.
That could by why fans of the show and the game are warning about possible backlash against Kaitlyn for taking on the part.
‘If this is Abby, wrap her with love and support cause holy s**t she’s gonna be hated in the story,’ one fan admonished.
‘She needs to be put in maximum security once season 2 comes out,’ exhorted another.
Some fans were upset that Kaitlyn’s petite physical characteristics don’t match Abby’s, who is portrayed as tall and quite buff in the video games.
‘Isn’t she a lil too small for my girl Abby bruh,’ one fan suggested.
The Emmy winning show stars Pedro Pascal, 48, and Bella Ramsey, 20, as survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Bella’s character Ellie, has an immunity to zombie bites and her body may hold the secret for humanity’s survival
Bella welcomed the news of Kaitlyn’s casting, sharing this photo and message in her Instagram Stories
‘I love her don’t get me wrong but Abby is tall and muscular and Kaitlyn is like 3 apples tall,’ explained a gamer familiar with the character who offered a supportive, ‘excited to see what she does tho!’
Taking those objections into consideration, showrunner Craig Mazin and game co-creator Neil Druckmann issued a joint statement.
‘Our casting process for season 2 has been identical to season 1: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material.’
The actress has a solid resumé behind her, including accolades and awards for her work. She was nominated for an Emmy for her role in 2021’s Dopesick as a young woman who becomes addicted to Oxycontin after suffering a back injury at work; seen with Mare Winningham
Kaitlyn was nominated for a Critics Choice Award and a Golden Globe Award for her turn as a young rape victim in the 2019 Netflix series Unbelievable
The young actress won a Hollywood Critics Association award for her performance in 2019’s Booksmart
‘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.’
The actress has a solid resumé behind her, including accolades and awards for her work.
She was nominated for an Emmy for her role in 2021’s Dopesick as a young woman who becomes addicted to Oxycontin after suffering a back injury at work.
She was nominated for a Critics Choice Award and a Golden Globe Award for her turn as a young rape victim in 2019’s Unbelievable, and won a Hollywood Critics Association award for her performance in 2019’s Booksmart.
