Actress Kaitlyn Dever has opened up about portraying Abby in HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, confessing she struggles to avoid reading online reactions to her controversial character.

The role of Abby carries significant baggage from the game's fandom, where some players directed their frustration beyond the fictional character - harassing Naughty Dog developers including Neil Druckmann and voice actor Laura Bailey. This escalated to disturbing threats against Bailey's family, including her toddler.

The production took these threats seriously, providing Dever with enhanced security during filming. Co-star Isabel Merced (playing Dina remarked: "It's surreal how intensely some fans hate Abby - a purely fictional character."

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

In her ScreenRant interview, Dever addressed whether she follows audience expectations for Abby's live-action debut:

"It's impossible to completely avoid online discussions," she admitted. "Especially entering this role, I occasionally catch glimpses of reactions. My goal is honoring Abby's essence while translating her faithfully for television."

"My primary focus remained the creative partnership with Neil and Craig Mazin. Understanding Abby's emotional core - her rage, grief, and motivations - consumed most of my preparation."

The Last of Us Season 2 Cast Updates

Druckmann recently revealed HBO's adaptation won't require Abby's exaggerated muscular physique from the game. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the creators explained:

"Gameplay necessitated distinct physicality between Ellie and Abby," Druckmann noted. "For TV, we prioritized finding Kaitlyn's phenomenal acting over replicating video game mechanics."

Mazin added: "This adaptation explores Abby's formidable spirit manifesting differently. Her resilience emerges through emotional depth rather than brute strength."

The showrunners confirmed Season 2 will cover only part of The Last of Us Part II's story, with a planned seven-episode arc leading to a natural midpoint. While Season 3 remains unconfirmed, the structure accommodates expanding the complex narrative across multiple seasons.