Actress Kaitlyn Dever, set to portray Abby in HBO's highly anticipated second season of "The Last of Us," recently opened up about the challenges of dealing with online reactions to her character. Abby, a pivotal figure from the video game series, has been at the center of significant controversy and toxicity, leading to real-life harassment of Naughty Dog employees like Neil Druckmann and actress Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game. The harassment extended to threats and abuse against Bailey, her parents, and her young son. HBO took additional security measures for Dever during filming, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding Abby's character.

Isabel Merced, who plays Dina in Season 2, commented on the surreal nature of the fan backlash, reminding everyone that Abby is a fictional character. "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," she stated.

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In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Dever admitted it's challenging to avoid the online buzz about Abby. "Well, it's hard not to see those things on the internet," she said. She expressed her desire to do justice to the character and satisfy the fans, but emphasized her primary focus was on collaborating with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin to deeply understand Abby's emotional journey, including her anger, frustration, and grief.

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Last month, Druckmann revealed that the HBO adaptation of "The Last of Us Part 2" would not portray Abby as the muscular character seen in the video game, as the show's narrative doesn't require the same physical distinction between her and Ellie. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Druckmann and Mazin explained that Dever did not need to bulk up for the role, as Abby's physicality plays a less significant role in the series, which focuses more on drama than on replicating video game mechanics.

Druckmann highlighted the differences in storytelling, noting that while Abby's physical strength was crucial in the game to differentiate her gameplay from Ellie's, the series shifts focus towards emotional depth. "We would've struggled to find someone as good as Kaitlyn to play this role," Druckmann said, praising Dever's casting.

Mazin added that the adaptation provides an opportunity to explore Abby's vulnerability and inner strength, questioning the origins and manifestations of her formidable nature. This approach aligns with HBO's plan to extend the story of "The Last of Us Part 2" over multiple seasons, with Season 2 ending at a "natural breakpoint" after seven episodes, setting the stage for potential future seasons.