Co-creator Neil Druckmann explained the shift in approach to the character during a press conference.
A mysterious group, led by a woman named Abby, arrives to brutally disrupt that peace.
Players don’t get much information about Abby at the start of the story.
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in ‘The Last of Us’ season 2.Credit:Liane Hentscher/HBO
The HBO adaptation takes a different approach to relaying that backstory.
We couldn’t do that in the show because you’re not playing as her.
So we need other tools, and that context gave us that shortcut."
Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ versus Laura Bailey’s Abby in the video games.Max; Naughty Dog
Another reason, he continued, involved where the Abby revelation occurs in the context of the game.
“It would probably get spoiled to them between seasons, and we didn’t want that.
Druckmann and Mazin alreadyaddressed the other big change to the Abby characterin a previous interview withEntertainment Weekly.
Isabela Merced as Dina, Bella Ramsey as Ellie in ‘The Last of Us’ season 2.Liane Hentscher/HBO
It’s more about the drama.
I’m not saying there’snoaction here.
It’s just, again, different priorities and how you approach it.”
And then the question is, Where does her formidable nature come from and how does it manifest?
That’s something that will be explored now and later.
The Last of Usseason 2 premieres Sunday, April 13 on HBO and Max.
