Kaitlyn Dever's Abby Unveiled in The Last of Us Trailer

The general TV audience is finally introduced to Abby, a crucial character from The Last of Us video games, known for her emotional impact on players. A first look at actress Kaitlyn Dever as Abby was revealed in a new trailer for The Last of Us season 2, released to celebrate TLOU Day on September 26, the day when the cordyceps outbreak spiraled out of control in the game’s universe.

Alongside the trailer, HBO shared an official plot summary for the upcoming season, which mirrors the marketing style used for the The Last of Us Part II video game: "After five years of peace following the first season, Joel and Ellie’s past comes back to haunt them, leading to conflict in a world that’s even more dangerous and unpredictable."

Abby is portrayed as "a skilled soldier whose black-and-white worldview is tested as she seeks revenge for her loved ones." She is introduced alongside a group of survivors, including Owen (Spencer Lord), Mel (Ariela Barer), Nora (Tati Gabrielle), and Manny (Danny Ramirez). The trailer showcases Abby in action, starting with a poignant shot of her by a gravesite, and includes a notable scene where she escapes from a horde of Infected.

When Abby was first introduced in The Last of Us Part II, her character sparked considerable controversy among players, leading to extreme reactions, including death threats received by co-creator Neil Druckmann. Actress Laura Bailey, who originally voiced Abby, shared her distress over threats made against her family in a documentary.

For the HBO adaptation, Isabela Merced, who plays a new character named Dina, revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Dever had to have heightened security during filming due to the intense feelings surrounding Abby's character. Merced reminded fans, "She’s not a real person."

Returning cast members include Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, with Gabriel Luna reprising his role as Joel's brother, Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Tommy's wife, Maria. New additions to the cast include Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Jeffrey Wright as Isaac, and Catherine O'Hara as a guest star, confirmed to play Joel's therapist in Jackson.

The trailer hints at Joel’s ongoing struggles after the dramatic events of season 1, where he made a devastating choice to save Ellie. O'Hara's character tells Joel, "You can't heal something unless you're brave enough to say it out loud," encouraging him to confront his actions.

The Last of Us season 2 is set to premiere on HBO and stream on Max in 2025, brought to life by writers and executive producers Craig Mazin and Druckmann.