Kaitlyn Dever’s version of Abby Anderson is quite different from The Last of Us game, and Neil Druckmann has a good reason for it.

The Last of Us has commenced its second season with a bang, reminding audiences exactly why they adored the first. While there naturally hasn’t been much progression in the first episode of the series, it has established a lot of very evident things about what is to come. Although there were mentions of the same, it has become clear that the series isn’t going to be as loyal to the source material as it was in the first season.

While this statement sounds terrifying to fans of the game, it is important to note that no changes have been made that would not add to the story. One of the biggest examples would be Joel’s relationship and dynamics with those around him. From being closer to Dina to the addition of his therapist, Gail, there have been a lot of positive and interesting changes.

A still from The Last of Us | Credit: Max

With the intention put behind these, one cannot help but wonder why the series decided to change a very big part of Abby’s character.

The Last of Us—To be ripped or not to be ripped

The addition of Abby has been a looming cloud of dread since the end of season 1 of The Last of Us. Fans of the game know what is coming, and her casting will only bring it closer.

While she is a morally conflicting character, audiences were quite surprised when Kaitlyn Dever was cast in the role. Although the actress is a very good match when it comes to her face, there is another characteristic of Abby that she falls behind in.

Abby from The Last Of Us 2 | Credit: Naughty Dog

Abby is built. Fans noticed this from the moment she was introduced, being a brute and intimidatingly muscular. Where Ellie is petite and able to sneak into places easily because of her size, Abby has to use her two hands and raw force to get into places. Their combat styles are also different, and when the player switches between the two, there is an evident difference in how things get done.

With this in mind, Dever would have had to put on a lot of muscle after she was cast. Standing at 5’2, there is a very clear difference between her real-life version and the game version. When the actress’s casting was announced, many expected her to get just as shredded as her character.

Kaitlyn Dever in Unbelievable | Credit: Netflix

However, this was not made a requirement for her role, which has caused many to wonder why. Thankfully, showrunner Neil Druckmann, who doesn’t change anything without reason, explained exactly why this decision was made.

Abby Anderson was not just a buff character

Neil Druckmann gave an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where he answered just why Abby’s design was changed when Kaitlyn Dever was cast in the role, and he ended up giving two justifications.

He started by looking at it from a casting perspective, mentioning that it would have been difficult to find someone who was physically similar to Abby in the same age bracket that they needed.

The scene of Abby hanging in The Last of Us Part II | Credits: Naughty Dog

Wanting to avoid narrowing the people they were casting, they decided to stick to a simple character design and cast from there. Druckmann then focused on the game Abby’s side of the conversation. He mentioned that Abby is a multifaceted character who is not defined by her physique.

In the game, you have to play both characters [Ellie and Abby] and we need them to play differently. We needed Ellie to feel smaller and kind of maneuver around, and Abby was meant to play more like Joel in that she’s almost like a brute in the way she can physically manhandle certain things.

That doesn’t play as big of a role in this version of the story because 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.

It would seem that the decision to make her buff in the games was made so that it was easier for the players to tell the difference when playing as her and Ellie. With this in mind, nothing would be lost from her character if her physique were changed.
A still from The Last of Us Season 2 trailer | Credit: HBO
On the other hand, one could argue that the change would add more to the story. Many fans strongly believe that she acts like the other side of the coin for Bella Ramsey’s character, fueled by revenge after their father was killed. Since Dever is only an inch taller than Ramsey and they have similar physiques, this comparison will be all the more evident.

The Last of Us season 2 is available for streaming on Max.