You Won't Believe Why Kaitlyn Dever's Face Was Digitally Altered in The Last of Us
Some of the most meticulously produced series still hide surprising behind-the-scenes secrets — and The Last of Us is no exception. Between technical feats and bodily mishaps, the team had to resort to digital effects to conceal a detail no one would have noticed otherwise. A curious case where fiction and reality collide…
As fans eagerly await the third season of The Last of Us, a small behind-the-scenes secret has just been revealed by Kaitlyn Dever herself. The actress, who joined the cast in Season 2, shared that an unexpected incident required the use of CGI to hide a flaw… caused by an eight-legged creature.
Image credit: HBO
A shoot disrupted by an unexpected bite
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kaitlyn Dever shared a rather unexpected story: a tiny spider bite nearly ruined a key scene — her first appearance with the Fireflies in the series. She explained that she was bitten on the face while at home, between shooting days.
What initially looked like a pimple turned out to be a severe skin infection, to the point that the production had to digitally erase the visible mark in post. “It was this massive zit — well, not a zit. More like a leaking bite from a tiny monster,” she joked.
Digital wizardry to keep the illusion intact
Thanks to the cutting-edge technology used by the post-production team, no trace of the bite is visible on screen. The result is truly impressive.
“The CGI is amazing. You can’t even tell it is there. I still have a scar on my face because they had to cut it out.”
— Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby
While digital touch-ups are common in major TV productions, it’s rare for actors to share these kinds of stories so openly and with such good humor.
A third season focused on Abby
This behind-the-scenes confession comes as Season 3 enters pre-production. Catherine O’Hara, also part of the cast, has confirmed that this new season will place Abby at the center of the story — a much-anticipated shift that should give Dever significantly more screen time.
In the same interview, the actress expressed her hope to shoot a flashback episode featuring Abby’s father, creating an emotional parallel to the Joel and Ellie duo that so deeply moved fans in Season 1.
For now, HBO has yet to announce a filming date for Season 3, and a fourth season has not been officially confirmed. However, Craig Mazin, the show’s co-creator, maintains that wrapping up the adaptation of The Last of Us Part II with a fourth season is “essential.”
