Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal blend fun, action in ‘The Accountant 2’

Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal in “The Accountant 2.” Image: Warner Bros

Over eight years after “The Accountant,” Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal are returning to work hand-in-hand as brothers, delivering a combo of fun and action in the second installment of the Gavin O’Connor-helmed film. 

Affleck and Bernthal were thrilled as they spoke about filming their respective comebacks as Christian and Braxton Wolffe, crediting O’Connor and writer Bill Dubuque for meticulously developing and integrating the actors’ characters for the sequel. 

“I love this character. I really enjoyed playing it,” Affleck said of his role in a virtual conference with the press including INQUIRER.net. 

“Gavin and I were both very much drawn to the idea of bringing John back and expanding on that because we both think this guy’s fabulous. We both felt like there’s a lot more to do,” he continued.

The actors regarded Dubuque’s writing as what made the film duo work, bringing out a humorous side to their brotherly-love-but-antagonistic fictional relationship. 

“It was a real thrill for me to get back and I think with Ben, it just kinda happened that way,” Bernthal said

“He’s unbelievably funny and he mastered this character in such a way that you can—there’s just so many little moments of truths that you’ll love but can also drive you crazy from the right point of view,” he added.

Bernthal also noted how the scenes played naturally with the guidance of O’Connor, who was with him every step of the way while he delved deep into the root of Braxton. 

Another returning cast member, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, meanwhile underscored her character’s growth into an individual fully trusting her capabilities. 

Addai-Robinson’s role engaged in a heightened level of female action in the sequel alongside a new “killer” character portrayed by Daniella Pineda. 

“It was definitely next level. I feel like it’s not a character you see all the time,” Pineda said. “There’s more to her, there’s more layers there… It’s a type of role that I’d like to see more women get to play.”

Comic factor

Crafting an approach to carry the first installment’s DNA into the sequel took a lot of conversations with Dubuque, O’Connor said. 

But more than conforming to the prequel’s plotline, O’Connor stressed that they wanted a movie that is “fun and entertaining.” He further remarked that Affleck and Bernthal’s characters’ “bonkers” traits and naturally amusing scenes hugely contributed to this. 

“The reason I think it works is because they weren’t trying to be funny. No one was trying to be funny,” O’Connor said of the actors. “They were so ingrained in their characters which have very specific wants, and if you’re not getting that, it’s like banging your head against the wall.”

Affleck then gave credits to O’Connor for showing the characters’ perspective in a visually-compelling way which, the actor said, sets the film apart from other action films he did. 

Affleck also underscored the effort each of the cast members exerted—including training for stunts and even line dancing—which were hugely instrumental in presenting the storyline. 

“We were always coming from characters,” O’Connor said, noting how he deviated from a “stunty” approach for the emotional elements to be seen. “It was really evoking emotions because you care about the characters.”

“The Accountant 2” is set to premiere in US theaters on April 25.