Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick) cast in second season of HBO's The Last of Us

Kaitlyn Dever, known from Hulu's limited series Dopesick, has joined HBO's hit The Last of Us.

The actress is one of three major cast additions for the upcoming second season of the post-apocalyptic drama, based on the video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog for PlayStation.



Dever (pictured) plays the most prominent new character in season two, Abby, along with leads Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel, and Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie.

Dever is known for her roles in the sitcom Last Man Standing, the film Booksmart and the Netflix limited series Unbelievable, which earned her a Critics Choice and Golden Globe nomination, and Hulu's limited series Dopesick, which earned her an Emmy, Critics Choice and Globe nomination.

When it was announced that the second season of The Last of Us will be based on 2020's The Last of Us Part II, fans' attention immediately turned to Abby, one of the game's two playable main characters alongside Ellie.

Dever's name emerged as the first candidate for the role shortly after the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike in November. She eventually struck a deal with HBO, which is co-producing the series with Sony Pictures Television.

Dever's Abby is a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is tested as she seeks revenge for those she loved. In the game, the character was played by Laura Bailey.

“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,” said Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us‘ co-creators, writers, executive producers and directors. “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.”

The story of The Last of Us takes place twenty years after modern civilization was destroyed. Joel (Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Ramsey), a fourteen-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job quickly becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey as they both cross the US and rely on each other for survival.

The cast of the first season, which was shot in Calgary, Alberta, also included Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, Elaine Miles as Florence, Ashley Johnson as Anna and Troy Baker as James.

In March 2023, it was revealed that season two will be filmed in Vancouver, as a major part of the story in the video game The Last of Us Part II is set in the Pacific Northwest. Production starts in February.

The Last of Us was written and produced by Mazin and Druckmann. Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan and Rose Lam also produce.

Following the Creative Arts portion of the 2023 Emmy Awards, The Last of Us topped the winners list with eight trophies, including Guest Actor In a Drama Series awards for Offerman and Reid.