According to Deadline, Kaitlyn Dever (Last Man Standing, Ticket to Paradise) is joining the cast of HBO‘s The Last of Us. She is the first of three major casting additions for the second season.

Dever is set to play Abby, joining the series alongside main cast members Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel, and Bella Ramsey, who is Ellie.

Season two of The Last of Us‘ is expected to be based on the 2020’s The Last of Us Part II, with Dever’s role being a prominent character in the video game. In the game, the character was portrayed by Laura Bailey (The Legend of Vox Machina, Critical Role).

According to Deadline, Dever’s name has been attached as the frontrunner for the role after the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike in November.

The Last of Us‘ co-creators, writers, executive producers and directors, Craig Mazin (Chernobyl, Identity Thief) and Neil Druckmann (Uncharted Series), talked about their casting process of Dever.

“Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material,” said Mazin and Druckmann, via Deadline, “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro, Bella and the rest of our family.”

According to Deadline, the series is expected to be filmed in Vancouver, where most of The Last of Us Part II video game was set. Production is slated to begin in February.

The Last of Us is written and executive produced by Mazin and Druckmann. The series is executive produced by Carolyn Strauss (The Sopranos, The Wire), Evan Wells (Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted), Asad Qizilbash (Uncharted, Gran Turismo), Carter Swan (Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo), and Rose Lam (A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Firm).

The Last of Us earned eight Emmy’s in 2023, including Guest Actor in a Drama Series awards for Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, The Founder) and Storm Reid (Missing, A Wrinkle in Time).

Dever recently appeared in Hulu’s science fiction horror film No One Will Save You. She appeared along side Elizabeth Kaluev (Mayfair Witches, Blue Bayou), Lauren L. Murray (Paradise Lost, Leverage: Redemption) and Dane Rhodes (Deja Vu, The Magnificent Seven).

She is repped by UTA and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.