“Maybe” Abby is cast. But my assumption is they’ve got someone they love in mind, but can’t make moves (or do much of anything) while WGA & SAGAFTRA are on strike. And schedules of actors can affect casting, so if the show is delayed so long that the actor can no longer make the schedule, they’ll be glad they didn’t go public with anything.
Bigger budget.
(We already knew this, but) Part II will be more than one season, and it won’t be arranged the same way the game arranged it.