(Image: Warner Bros. Pictures)
The recently released first trailer for "The Accountant 2," which reunites stars Jon Bernthal and Ben Affleck, has reignited fan excitement. But beyond the anticipation, many have wondered why the sequel took so long to get off the ground. In a recent interview with Screen Rant, returning director Gavin O'Connor shed some light on the reasons behind the lengthy delay.
(Image: Amazon)
O'Connor admitted that the sequel's long stint in development hell was largely due to the constant executive turnover at Warner Media in recent years. The team was originally set to start writing the script back in 2018, but the project was stalled by major personnel shake-ups within the studio.
The tide turned three years ago when Affleck and Matt Damon founded their production company, Artists Equity. Affleck personally went to Warner Bros. and laid down the law: "If you're not going to make it, then don't just sit on it. Don't stop us from making the movie we've been wanting to make for eight years." Ultimately, Warner Bros. allowed Affleck to take "The Accountant 2" to Amazon. The move was seamless, as many former Warner Bros. executives who were familiar with the project's predicament had since moved to Amazon, helping the deal come together quickly.
(Image: Amazon)
O'Connor also revealed that Artists Equity co-financed the sequel, and Amazon granted them significant creative freedom. He added that the studio is very pleased with the final product, and the film has already held internal test screenings that received a strong, positive response. O'Connor expressed his immense confidence in the film. While Warner Bros. is no longer involved in the production, it will still handle the movie's overseas distribution.
"The Accountant 2" is once again penned by the original film's screenwriter, Bill Dubuque. The story follows Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), who is forced to contact Christian Wolff (Affleck) after her former boss, Ray King (J.K. Simmons), is murdered by an unknown assassin. With the help of his estranged but highly capable brother, Braxton (Bernthal), Christian uses his brilliant mind and less-than-legal methods to piece together the unsolved puzzle. As they draw closer to the truth, the trio attracts the attention of a group of deadly killers determined to stop them from uncovering the conspiracy. The film is slated for a North American release on April 25.
via： Screenrant