HBO's critically acclaimed series The Last of UsThe second season of 's is drawing attention as a highly anticipated production. The new season will feature a series adapted from Naughty Dog's popular video game. The Last Of Us Part II' will focus on a part of the season and the character Abby will have an important place in this season. However, the series' producers Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin announced that Kaitlyn Dever, who will play Abby, will not be as muscular as the game character. This statement raised some questions in the minds of fans.
Performance and Reflecting the Essence of Character are Important
The Last of Us series producers have stated that they focused on the actress' performance rather than Abby's physical appearance. Neil Druckmann said, "Performance comes first for us. We always need someone who can really capture the essence of these characters. It's not so much 'Do they look exactly like the character with their eyebrows, noses or bodies?'", emphasizing that Abby's physical appearance is secondary.
This approach was also seen in the previous seasons of the series. The spiritual and emotional aspects of the characters were given more prominence than physical similarities, The Last of Us One of the most striking features of the series.
Abby's Muscular Look and the Importance of Performance
Abby's muscular appearance in the games was based on both a physical and psychological basis. In The Last of Us Part II, Abby had a strong and muscular build, which reflected her character's characteristics such as toughness and determination. Druckmann stated that Abby's muscularity served the story, and explained, "In The Last of Us Part 2, we wanted you to feel like you were playing as Joel when you played Abby. We decided that Ellie would be thinner but much more agile."
Abby's physical strength and muscular structure certainly play a big role in the game's story. However, instead of this physical similarity, the emotional and psychological depth of the character will be emphasized in the series. Trusting Kaitlyn Dever's performance, the producers prefer to focus on the character's inner world.
7 Episodes in New Season: Shorter Than Season One
The second season of The Last of Us will consist of a total of 7 episodes. This will be a season that is two episodes shorter than the first season. However, this short duration does not mean that the quality of the series will be compromised. In addition to Abby in the new season, The Last Of Us Part II's other important characters will also be covered in depth. 7 episodes will allow for a sufficiently deep exploration of the story and highlighting of character development.
The second season of The Last of Us is an exciting milestone for fans of video game adaptations. Abby, while not physically the same as the game, promises to provide viewers with a deep character portrait with Kaitlyn Dever’s performance. The attention Druckmann and Mazin pay to performance seems to be reflected in the quality of the series. Fans will discover both the characters’ spiritual journeys and Abby’s dynamics in the new season.
