‘The Last of Us’ Co-Creator Confirms Season 3 Will Center on Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby: ‘Spoiler Alert’

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At the FYC panel held on Monday evening, “The Last of Us” co-creator, Neil Druckmann, revealed that the upcoming Season 3 will primarily revolve around the character portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, specifically Abby.

As a passionate cinephile delving into the creative process of HBO’s productions, Druckmann shared his astonishment at the level of freedom granted to shape our series: “I honestly can’t believe they allowed us such liberty in structuring the storyline. To give you a hint, Season 3 will feature – major spoiler ahead – Kaitlyn as the main character.

Season 2 ended with a switch in perspective from Bella Ramsey’s character, Ellie, to Abby.

In her virtual appearance on the panel, she addressed the topic of embodying the character of Abby, who famously killed the beloved Joel (Pedro Pascal) at the outset of Season 2. She expressed that the debate surrounding Abby’s actions was never a worry for her, mainly due to her initial encounters with Craig and Neil, both being incredibly kind and gifted individuals.

Dever stated, ‘I’ve never experienced being supported on a set quite like this before.’ In Episode 2, we filmed that scene in the chalet… I was dealing with some personal issues at the time, but acting in that scene was an exceptional experience for me as an actor because it truly felt like a collaborative effort among the team.

The discussion was led by Rob McElhenney and included the show’s co-creator Craig Mazin, as well as actors Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Isabela Merced, and Young Mazino.

Mazin explained that the character death of Joel, as portrayed in the second “The Last of Us” game, aligned thematically with the series. He stated, “On a program where we aim to keep things authentic and make viewers feel truly threatened, it’s fitting that even characters we don’t expect to perish meet their end. For me, this series isn’t about seeking vengeance; it’s about dealing with grief.

Ellie’s Season 2 journey headed toward vengeance, shaped by the relationship she has with Joel.

Ramsey noted that Ellie appears to be 19 years old instead of 14, a significant change for anyone, but particularly so in an apocalyptic setting where she lives under the care of a pseudo-father who has certain issues. If Ellie didn’t harbor both love and intense hatred towards him due to his actions, Ramsey believes her situation might be less complicated. However, because their relationship is so intricate, Ellie seems incredibly motivated to seek more than just justice, veering into potentially perilous territory.

Ramsey was further queried regarding the reason behind discussing their neurodivergence openly. Earlier this year, the actor revealed that they had been officially diagnosed with Autism.

Ramsey mentioned that the topic naturally came up in conversation. He shared that since it impacts much of his work and approach, learning about it during Season 1 was particularly beneficial for him. As he moved into Season 2 with this knowledge, it proved helpful then and continues to be so every day. In essence, discussing this aspect is simply a reflection of who he is.

The other actors also talked about building their characters.

Luna expressed that Tommy’s resilience stems from his capacity to connect with others, bring people together, recognize his own shortcomings, understand his vulnerabilities, and rely on the support of a family and community.

Regarding Dina and her relationship with Ellie, Merced expressed that “Bella played a significant role in allowing my happiness and carefree energy to flourish. I felt incredibly comfortable thanks to Bella, and I always felt truly understood by her.

Apart from discovering that Mazin infused her unique personality and wit into the writing, Merced noticed that she based certain characters on individuals from her personal life, such as her own mother. As she explained, “The reason Dina is likeable at all is likely because I poured the love I have for others into her.

In addition, Mazino drew inspiration from his father for the character of Jesse. Since I’ve been quite impulsive and ambitious with my own life, and often felt like an outsider without a sense of belonging, I wanted to portray Jesse as someone who is trustworthy and reliable in any circumstance. So, I aimed to blend these two aspects.

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2025-06-10 22:47