Superhero lovers have long been disappointed that Ben Affleck never got his own Batman movie, but hopefully, the actor’s upcoming action sequel can make up for this loss. Since he first entered the movie scene in the 1990s, Ben Affleck has collected a number of interesting and diverse roles. He has leaned into his Boston roots with Good Will Hunting and The Town. He has dipped his toes into historical dramas like Pearl Harbor and The Last Duel. However, what are arguably Affleck’s most notable movies are his action and superhero projects.
From 2016 to 2023, Ben Affleck took on the legendary role of Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. Alongside Henry Cavill’s Superman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Affleck enjoyed two big movies as the Dark Knight, and three cameos. However, among these appearances, Affleck never got his own Batman movie. He appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, but he never got a movie where he was a true star. Now, Robert Pattinson has taken up the black cape, and Affleck has missed an opportunity that could have been really awesome.
The Accountant 2 Is Ben Affleck’s Most Promising Action Movie Since His Batman Days
The Accountant Franchise Explained
Fortunately, Ben Affleck isn’t completely out of the action game. His next movie, set to release in 2025, is The Accountant 2. This is the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 action film, The Accountant. The movie follows Christian Wolff, a man on the Autism spectrum who uses a cover as a CPA to do accounting for dangerous criminal organizations. The Accountant 2 will see the return of Wolff, alongside Jon Bernthal as Wolff’s brother and J.K. Simmons as a Treasury agent on Wolff’s tail. This could be Affleck’s chance to finally redeem himself as an action star.
It is important to note that Ben Affleck has only appeared in one action movie since the 2021 director’s cut of Justice League.
It is important to note that Ben Affleck has only appeared in one action movie since the 2021 director’s cut of Justice League. The 2023 film, Hypnotic, was quite a disappointment. It earned only $16 million at the box office on a budget of $65 million. Furthermore, the movie received a 32% on Rotten Tomatoes. Because of this, Affleck has a lot of catching up to do in the action genre. He not only needs to make up for his stint as Batman being cut short, but he also must prove that he can still ace an action movie.
The Accountant 2’s J.K. Simmons Return Makes It Even Closer To Affleck’s Unmade Batman Movie
The Accountant’s Cast Makes It Even Better
A small detail that connects The Accountant 2 with Batman even more is the fact that J.K. Simmons is set to reprise his role as Ray King. As previously mentioned, Simmons plays the Treasury agent, King, who is attempting to catch Affleck’s Wolff. However, this isn’t the only collaboration Simmons and Affleck have made. Notably, Simmons played Commissioner Gordon during Affleck’s time as Bruce Wayne. To have these two actors sharing the screen once more is exciting, but it will also make The Accountant 2 reminiscent of Batman in some ways.
In general, The Accountant 2 has an outstanding cast. Jon Bernthal has garnered increasing fame for his roles in The Punisher, The Walking Dead, and The Bear. Additionally, movie star J.K. Simmons has long been a beloved actor who has brought life to many comic book roles aside from Commissioner Gordon. His intensity makes him perfect for an action flick like The Accountant 2. All of this only helps Affleck’s case. With its star-studded cast, successful first film, and unique premise, The Accountant 2 has the makings of a really great action sequel.
The Accountant – Official Trailer 2 (Trailer)
Why The Accountant Is The Perfect Action Franchise For Ben Affleck
The Accountant Is Less Pressure
In many ways, The Accountant 2 is perfect for Ben Affleck. Though the actor has succeeded in big franchises before, superhero IPs are risky. They come with a lot of baggage, including fan expectations, comic book accuracy, massive budgets, and general Hollywood drama. This may have been a lot for Affleck, who seemingly does his best work in small, contained stories. The Accountant gives him the best of both worlds. Affleck can dive back into a solid action role without the stress of being part of a huge franchise.
All in all, hopes are high that Ben Affleck can make a strong comeback. The actor has dropped the ball in the action genre, and because of his recent divorce from Jennifer Lopez, he could definitely use a win. The Accountant 2 may just be the perfect opportunity for Ben Affleck to prove once again that he has the acting chops to play an engaging and admirable action hero.
