Neil Druckmann has stated that the team deliberately included this Easter egg for loyal fans.
It turns out that Laura Bailey, the voice actor behind Abby – one of the key characters in the second chapter of The Last of Us, also appeared in the season finale of the HBO adaptation of the franchise.
Although the actress was nearly unrecognizable while portraying a nurse in the operating room scene with a medical mask on, some observant fans noticed that her name was mentioned in the credits, while others even managed to recognize her despite the mask.
Shortly after the season finale aired, co-creators of the show Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed that it was indeed Laura Bailey who played one of the nurses. According to Druckman, the team intentionally hid this Easter egg for fans who recognize the significance of the operating room scene.
While avoiding major spoilers for those who haven't played the game's sequel, it's safe to say that the operating room scene is a pivotal moment for Abby's fate and has significant consequences for both Joel and Ellie, ultimately triggering a sequence of events that kickstarts the story of The Last of Us Part II.
One of the advantages of the surprise cameo is that Laura Bailey's role is nearly unidentifiable, as both nurses are unrecognizable in their surgical attire, which opens up the possibility for the actress to return to a new role in the second season of the show.
While not confirming anything, Druckmann and Mayzin themselves also apparently hinted that Bailey could appear in Season 2 of the series.
"Maybe we'll do something else with her in the next season," Druckmann said.
"She's got a mask on," Mazin added. “So we can make her anything we want in the next season."
Earlier, Bailey shared that Abby was "one of the most influential roles" she's had in her life and said that she would really like to go back to the character if she had a chance.
Have you noticed the actress in the season finale? Would you like to see her in the next season of the show? Share your comments in the comments below.
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