Neil Druckmann reveals a major difference between Abby in The Last Of Us Season 2 and the video game 

The Last Of Us is making a comeback with its second season this year, and a thrilling trailer has already set the tone ahead for a promising ride. Led by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay, the series is based on the highly acclaimed video game of the same name and explores its characters in depth.

Director Neil Druckmann has been the force behind the story, and he recently revealed a creative decision he made regarding one of the characters in the show. The second season will be introducing a new character called Abby, and as soon as clips and photos of the actress in her role went viral, fans pointed out that she looked nothing like her video game counterpart.

In the video game, Abby has a strong physique and looks muscular and bulky. In the series, she is lean and doesn't look as sturdy as she does in the video game. Addressing this change, Druckmann spoke to EW and said it's because the series won't have a lot of physically demanding scenes for the character, in contrast to the video game:

“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.”

Showrunner Craig Mazin then added:

“I personally think that 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.”

Who is playing Abby in The Last Of Us?

Kaitlyn Dever will be stepping into the role of Abby this season, and her portrayal looks good so far, based on teasers and trailers. The actress is known for her role in Booksmart. She also was a part of Unbelievable and Dopesick, both of which earned her nominations for Golden Globes and Primetime Emmys.

Druckmann also spoke well of Dever and how she was an absolute right choice:

“Kaitlyn has the spirit of the game in her. What I always loved about the idea was that you are going to continually be challenged as you were in season 1. When you try to pick a hero, it’s tough because we’re human beings, we’re not heroes. For every heroic act, there’s someone who suffers on the other side who may see you reasonably as a villain. When you look at Kaitlyn, there’s just something in her eyes where, even no matter what she’s experiencing, you connect."

The Last Of Us season 2 will hit screens on April 2025. It will be available to stream on HBO Max.