Craig Mazin Reveals Why The Last of Us TV Show Changes Abby’s First Scene

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Warning: Contains major spoilers for The Last of Us season 2.

At last, The Last of Us is back with its second season, and fans have finally met the much-anticipated character, Abby.

In the initial version of the game, Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, appears as a fresh playable character at the outset. However, it isn’t until she takes the life of another character that we begin to question her true motives.

In the TV show, before the five-year leap, the narrative shifts immediately to Abby and her fellow orphans, who are strategizing to track down Joel (Pedro Pascal), as they gather near their families’ gravesites.

The shift in the narrative prompted a query about why the plot twist was accelerated to be directed towards showrunner Craig Mazin.

Mazin added: “He mentioned he found himself relating strongly to the characters due to their play mechanics, and I concur, as a game enthusiast, when we embody these characters, there’s an immediate bond. Yet, it can get perplexing to identify with them and then see them engaging in actions that we wish they wouldn’t.

In television, we lack the ability to immerse ourselves in characters as deeply as one might say, “When I was Joel” or “When I was Abby.” Instead, we observe them and understand that this medium necessitates providing ample context for each character. Unlike video games where you can switch between characters at will, here we couldn’t simply press a button and be Joel or Ellie. Instead, we were committed to being Abby for an extended period, as the narrative demanded. We don’t have that luxury in television production.

As a movie buff, I pondered over the timing of introducing and dismissing characters, and I decided that placing Abby strategically was crucial for the flow of the story.

A lot of the choice came from how viewers will watch the new season, with episodes dropping weekly.

However, in our game, there’s no option for a direct path. Unlike other games where you can instantly reach an answer if you wish, our answers might take some time to reveal themselves. This is a decision we’ve carefully considered.

Last year, Abby was added to the show’s cast, and this character is portrayed as a proficient soldier. Her perspective on the world, once clear-cut in black and white, starts to blur as she pursues retribution for those dear to her.

After the announcement, the makers of the show stood up for Dever when they clarified that her character would possess significant variations in comparison to the game.

At the given moment, Neil Druckmann emphasized that they prioritize acting abilities above all else. What they seek is an actor who can truly embody the spirit of those characters… They are less concerned about whether the actor resembles the character in terms of eyebrows, nose, body shape, or any other physical trait.

“It’s not nowhere on the priority list, but it’s below a bunch of other things that we consider.”

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2025-04-14 05:04