HBO's 'Last of Us' casts Kaitlyn Dever as controversial character Abby

Kaitlyn Dever, known for her roles in Booksmart and Dear Evan Hansen, has been cast as controversial character Abby for HBO's The Last of Us season 2, Variety confirmed.

Abby was first introduced in the second Last of Us game, released in 2020, as a soldier seeking revenge for those she loves. Her character became one the most controversial in the game due to her part in the story (no spoilers here) and was also subject to misogyny online due to her muscular appearance. 

"Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material," series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said.

"Nothing matters more than talent, and we're thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella, and the rest of our family."

Dever, 27, is an acclaimed actress with Golden Globe and Emmy nominations under her belt. She has starred in films such as Short Term 12, Beautiful Boy, Booksmart, Dear Evan Hansen, and No One Will Save You, in which she also served as an executive producer.

The first season of The Last of Us was a hit as it earned massive viewership as well as Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. So far, It has bagged eight awards at the Creative Arts Emmys, including Best Guest Actor and Actress in a Drama Series for Nick Offerman and Stormi Reid, respectively.