Actress Kaitlyn Dever was recently announced to be joining the cast of HBO’s hit post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us. The series stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead roles. It is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name developed by Naughty Dog. However, the series does not mark the first time Dever will be working on a Naughty Dog project.
Dever, who has seen her star in Hollywood rise in the past couple of years, will be a crucial part of the second season of The Last of Us. However, the actress previously worked with Naughty Dog on one of their most high-profile videogame titles almost eight years ago. Here is everything you need to know about Dever’s previous collaboration with the award-winning game studio.
Kaitlyn Dever Reunites With Naughty Dog After Eight Years For The Last of Us
On January 9, 2024, actress Kaitlyn Dever was formally cast as Abigail “Abby” Anderson in HBO’s The Last of Us. The character was first introduced in Naughty Dog’s video game The Last of Us Part II, released in 2020. Dever will bring the character to live action in the show’s second season, which is expected to explore the events of the second game in the video game franchise.
However, the role marks Dever’s second time working on a project by Naughty Dog, having first worked with the video game studio back in 2016. While Dever was still starring in the hit sitcom Last Man Standing, she worked with Naughty Dog on the 2016 game Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
The fourth installment in the treasure-hunting game series sees Dever portray Cassie Drake, the daughter of Nathan Drake. Dever provided the voice and motion capture for the character. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End went on to become one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 games. Therefore, one can only hope that the second team-up between Dever and Naughty Dog will be a similar success, taking The Last of Us to new heights.
Kaitlyn Dever To Play Abby Anderson in Season 2 of The Last of Us
In season 2, Kaitlyn Dever will essay the role of Abby Anderson, a soldier of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), on a murderous quest for revenge following her father’s death. In the process, Abby’s path crosses with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Abby is one of the most divisive characters from the original games because of her moral complexity, making her a hotly debated topic among fans. However, most fans were clamoring to see her in live action after season 1.
Dever, who received a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination for her work in the Hulu miniseries Dopesick, will certainly be a welcome addition to the show’s cast. She is also known for her roles in films such as No One Will Save You and Rosaline. Filming for the second season of The Last of Us was delayed because of the writers’ and actors’ strikes. It is now expected to commence sometime in February 2024, with HBO eyeing a 2025 premiere for the second installment.
The Last of Us is now streaming on Max.
