Last of Us Uses CGI on Kaitlyn Dever's Abby Role

The arrival of Abby in The Last of Us Season 2 sparked much discussion, but few anticipated Kaitlyn Dever requiring CGI treatment due to an unexpected spider bite.

During an interview with the Los Angeles Times about filming the acclaimed series, Dever revealed production had to digitally conceal an inflamed bite mark sustained between shoots.

"It appears during my first Fireflies episode," Dever explained. "I'd taken a short break when I noticed what I thought was a pimple on my cheek. It turned out to be something far worse - an infected spider bite that became, well, quite noticeable."

The actress praised HBO's effects team: "Their CGI work is incredible - completely undetectable. Though I've been left with a permanent scar from the subsequent medical treatment."

Dever also shared how personal tragedy shaped her performance in pivotal scenes. Having lost her mother to cancer just days before filming intense sequences with Joel and Ellie, she drew from raw emotion.

"Attending my mother's funeral just three days prior fundamentally changed my approach," Dever reflected. "Grief alters perception in profound ways - the entire experience remains somewhat hazy in my memory."

HBO reports tremendous success for Season 2, with global viewership surpassing 90 million since Season 1 concluded. While U.S. finale ratings showed 3.7 million same-night viewers (down from the season premiere's 5.3 million), Warner Bros anticipates significant delayed viewing boosts.

Previous records set by Season 1's 8.2 million-viewer finale remain unmatched - suggesting continued audience growth potential.

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Showrunner Craig Mazin recently confirmed plans extending beyond Season 3 might be necessary to properly adapt Naughty Dog's narrative. "Condensing everything into Season 3 would require unrealistic runtime," Mazin stated, while acknowledging potential seasonal extensions.

Mazin and creative partner Neil Druckmann remain tight-lipped about specific character arcs, admitting even they remain uncertain about certain fan favorites' future involvement.