The Last of Us Season 2 has officially cast Abby Anderson

HBO's The Last of Us is coming out swinging, as Season 2 of the hit video game adaptation has officially cast its next big villain.

Abby Anderson is coming to the world of the Cordyceps infection, and confirming previous reports, Booksmart's Kaitlyn Dever has nabbed the part. 

Kaitlyn Dever joins The Last of Us Season 2

Not exactly coming as a surprise, The Hollywood Reporter confirms the Booksmart and Unbelievable actor has signed on to play the big bad of Season 2 and beyond. First appearing in 2020's The Last of Us Part II video game, Abby is the buff baddie who causes a whole world of trouble for Ellie and Joel. 

Abby's official description reads, "Abby is a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved," suggesting she'll be one of the most dangerous foes Ellie and Joel have faced.

For those who've played Part II, you'll know Abby's connection to a major character exit, although when that'll happen in The Last of Us' show timeline remains to be seen. Ironically, fans had lobbied for Dever to play Ellie before the part went to Game of Thrones' Bella Ramsey.

Abby will be sticking around for a while

Click to enlarge

Image via Naughty Dog | HBO

The Last of Us Part II was hit with a slew of negative responses, and let's just say, fans weren't kind to Abby. Bella Ramsey has already teased that they're getting buff for Season 2, so expect these two warrior women to butt heads.

We know The Last of Us Season 2 won't be the end of the road, with showrunner Craig Mazin teasing a four-season run as the perfect number. Given Abby's prominence in the second half of Part II, Dever had better settle into the part because she'll likely be around for a while. 

The Last of Us Season 2 was ground to a halt by the SAG-AFTRA strikes, but with things back on track, we're aiming for a 2025 release. Now that we know Dever has been cast, keep em' peeled for a first look at her in costume, as well as the inevitable backlash that comes from the notoriously toxic TLOU fandom.