Fans of The Last of Us may want to brace themselves for a spoiler. Season 3 of the hit series will revolve around the character Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever. This was recently confirmed by Neil Druckmann, one of the show’s co-creators, during a panel discussion held earlier this week.
As reported by Variety, Druckmann said, “I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way, meaning like, we just ended Season 2, and Season 3 is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn.”
Season 2’s Ending Set the Stage
The shift in narrative was already suggested at the end of Season 2, when the storyline began moving away from Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, and started focusing on Abby. Abby’s character sparked strong reactions from fans, mainly due to her controversial act — killing Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) during Season 2.
Kaitlyn Dever Responds to the Controversy
Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, shared her thoughts on the strong opinions surrounding her character. Speaking remotely at the panel, she said, “I guess the controversy surrounding Abby was never really a concern for me, just given my first meeting with Craig and Neil and how wonderful they are and how talented they are.”
A Story About Grief, Not Revenge
Co-creator Craig Mazin also shed light on why Joel’s death had to happen. He explained that the show tries to remain realistic, and that means even major characters can die. “In a show where we try and keep things as grounded as possible, and we want people to feel in real danger, then yes, sometimes the people that we can’t imagine dying die,” Mazin said. “That’s because, for me, this is not a show about revenge. It’s a show about grief.”
About the Series
The Last of Us first aired on January 15, 2023, on HBO. The main cast included Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie. Season 1 also featured Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, and Young Mazino in important roles. Season 2 premiered on April 13 this year and wrapped up on May 25. However, HBO has not yet announced when Season 3 will be released.