Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal reveal how 'The Accountant 2' action scenes are different from 'Batman' and 'The Punisher'

Time of India

2 days ago

Ben Affleck
and
Jon Bernthal
are set to team up in the upcoming action flick 'The Accountant 2'. The duo, who play the leading men in the upcoming film, got candid about stepping up with guns blazing in this Gavin O'Connor directorial.
No stranger to action roles, the two stars have earned quite the fan following for their roles in previous blockbuster franchises like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and The Punisher. At 'The Accountant 2' global press conference, attended by ETimes, the duo discussed how the sequel focuses on emotionally grounded action rather than mere action spectacle.
For Ben, who portrayed Batman in the DC Extended Universe, the physical demands of The Accountant 2 felt distinct due to the personal stakes woven into the narrative.
The actor, who returned to the sequel explained, "To me, what makes the action in The Accountant 2 so unique is that it's always rooted in character motivation. It's not about creating a shot that looks cool or building a sequence for visual flair. Everything is driven by what these characters want and why they are fighting in the first place.
"
The sequel continues the story of Christian Wolff (Affleck), a mathematical savant with lethal combat skills.
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Unlike the large-scale action of Batman v Superman, the violence in The Accountant 2 remains gritty and intimate. Affleck noted, "It's always driven by what each character wants and why they're doing this. There's a grounded reason for every action, and Gavin's gift is to take that and make it visually compelling.
"
Director Gavin O'Connor echoed his sentiments, saying, "We didn't want the action to feel 'stunty' or separate from the characters."
"By the third act, it was all about tracking how these brothers—Christian and Brax—are working together, how they're united. The choreography isn't just about the physicality; it's about the emotional connection between them."
According to O'Connor, every sequence—no matter how explosive—serves a narrative purpose. "Action is like a dance; it's done in beats," the director explained. "But it only matters if it evokes emotion.
Otherwise, it's just disposable violence."
Jon Bernthal, who features as Brax, Christian's estranged but loyal brother, described how his character's journey is deeply intertwined with the film's themes of family and redemption. "You can't lie in a fight—you just can't," he remarked and added, "What you want is right there, so if you're going for it, you've got to know why. Gavin has a hunger to really dive into what makes these characters tick.
For Brax, the emotional baggage from their childhood and their father's influence is always there.
The violence isn't just for show—it's a way to express love and loyalty."
Bernthal reflected on the mysterious nature of his character in the first film and how the sequel peels back layers of his relationship with his brother. "The first film left a lot unsaid about Brax. But here, it's about getting each other's backs, and being there for each other. In a strange way, the action scenes show how much these brothers love and need each other," he added.
The Accountant 2 is set for its release on Prime Video India, on Thursday, June 5.
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