The Accountant 2 will hit theaters this spring, nine years after Ben Affleck’s first installment in the franchise — although Gavin O’Connor has been trying to produce the sequel for almost a decade. The crime thriller first premiered in 2016 and centers around a gifted accountant (Affleck) who commits fraud for a number of criminal organizations. The film was the target of much criticism, generating discussions about whether The Accountant is worth watching, yet the feature has continued to find new audiences years after release. Exclusive of Anna Kendrick, the upcoming sequel will see the return of The Accountant‘s main cast.

The handful of first-look images in The Accountant 2 show Affleck and Jon Bernthal back in action, as the series elaborates on the complicated relationship between the two brothers. According to O’Connor, the long-awaited premise has been in development for almost a decade, while The Accountant has attracted new audiences on streaming services. This increased attention is sure to generate even more audience enthusiasm for the sequel, and The Accountant 2 will officially debut at the South by Southwest Film and TV Festival on March 8 — shortly followed by a theatrical run at the end of April.

The Accountant 2 Was In Development Hell For Eight Years

Gavin O’Connor Has Known He Wanted To Create A Sequel To The Accountant Since 2016

Since The Accountant was released in 2016, O’Connor has reportedly been working on its sequel. Shockingly, The Accountant 2 has been stuck in development for eight years in line with the studio’s changing strategies and leadership. Speaking with Vanity Fair, the director highlighted the grueling process, saying it “felt like this flower that was ready to bloom, and then it would stop again and start again. It was so frustrating.” Part of the delay for the sequel to The Accountant is due to the industry’s unfortunate focus on mainstream blockbusters over mid-budget films, meaning that O’Connor’s story became low priority.

That being said, the director had a very clear vision for the sequel from the outset. Both Affleck and Bernthal were eager to sign on for a sequel, and were primarily motivated by the prospect of working much closer together this time round. According to Affleck, the movie has become an audience favorite and continues to generate conversation today. O’Connor speaks of the sequel in high regard, and outlines the importance of creating a story that resonates with audiences and “deal[s] with human connection,” (via Vanity Fair) over a painstaking action movie that rehashes tired tropes.

How The Accountant 2 Will Be Different From The First Movie

The Accountant 2 Is On A Far Bigger Scale Than The First Movie

Perhaps the most obvious difference between The Accountant and its sequel will be the main story. With Anna Kendrick not returning for The Accountant 2, the movie will focus on the relationship between the two brothers, meaning Bernthal will play a major role in the new narrative. As expected, this will particularly reshape the dynamic of the first movie, but may afford the opportunity to introduce new characters into the series. Current confirmed cast members include Jurᴀssic World‘s Daniella Pineda, as well as Hacksaw Ridge‘s Robert Morgan — although no information about their roles has been disclosed as yet.

Not to mention, the status of both main actors has grown substantially since The Accountant in 2016. At the time of release, Bernthal was still on the rise to stardom, but has since become the face of the Marvel series, The Punisher, while also starring in many critically acclaimed projects, such as Baby Driver and The Bear. Affleck has been on a rapid ascent alongside Bernthal, too. The actor has ventured into directing, with credits for the Academy Award-winning Argo, and received a lot of praise for his portrayal of the masked vigilante in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Source: Vanity Fair