By Nicolas Ayala
Anna Kendrick’s absence from The Accountant 2 may have left fans scratching their heads, but as with most things tied to Christian Wolff’s complex world, there’s more beneath the surface — and it just might lead to the most emotionally resonant twist in the entire franchise. While the 2025 sequel gave Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal a gritty, number-crunching brother-bonding spectacle to sink their teeth into, Kendrick’s Dana Cummings remains off-screen for now. That said, the franchise’s sharp-eyed director Gavin O’Connor is already plotting a return for her in a potential third installment — one that could transform her role from love interest to essential emotional anchor.
The Accountant 2 intentionally left Anna Kendrick out to focus on brotherly dynamics
Nearly a decade after the original The Accountant hit theaters, the sequel zeroes in on Christian Wolff’s relationship with his estranged brother Brax. O’Connor, who helmed both films, made it clear that The Accountant 2 was always meant to be a “brother story” — not a continuation of every subplot from the first. That’s why, despite Dana Cummings being a fan-favorite character, Kendrick wasn’t brought back for the second chapter.
“We didn’t want a love story in the second movie,” O’Connor explained at the The Accountant 2 premiere. “We wanted a love story with brothers. … The emotional line between Christian and Brax was what we needed to explore.”
It’s a storytelling choice that makes sense when you dig into the tone of the sequel. Christian and Brax’s relationship is volatile, emotional, and raw — a sharp contrast to the cerebral, layered mystery of the first film. Introducing Dana into that mix without a meaningful arc for her would have risked diluting the core of what Gavin wanted to say with the sequel.
Director teases Anna Kendrick’s return — and a deeper love story for Christian Wolff
But just because Kendrick isn’t in the sequel doesn’t mean she’s been written out of the franchise. In fact, O’Connor is more than optimistic about her return — and he’s actively envisioning a third film that brings Dana back into Christian’s world.
“She’s a hundred percent in if we want,” O’Connor said, speaking with The New York Times. He even revealed that he’s been texting Kendrick and that the creative team is eager to find the right way to bring her back. “Don’t be surprised if Dana shows up in the third film.”
And this isn’t just a cameo tease. O’Connor envisions the next chapter as one where Christian’s quest for connection and love is finally given its due. “Maybe Christian can finally get the love that he deserves,” the director mused. After two films centered on puzzles and brotherly conflict, the third could be where Christian Wolff’s emotional journey truly unfolds — and where Dana Cummings becomes more than just a supporting character.
Anna Kendrick’s career momentum mirrors the potential power of her next role
While fans wait to see if The Accountant 3 materializes, Kendrick herself isn’t slowing down. 2025 has been a busy year for her, with recent roles like the one opposite Blake Lively in Another Simple Favor. She’s constantly proving her range, moving seamlessly from sharp comedies to intense dramas — much like the versatility she’d need to bring Dana back as a more fully realized character.
It’s easy to imagine that Kendrick’s next turn as Dana could mirror this evolution: from love interest to emotional equal, from plot device to key player. And given Gavin O’Connor’s track record of crafting layered, character-driven stories (just look at his work in Creed and the original Accountant), there’s every reason to believe he’ll give Kendrick the material to shine once again.
The third film could turn Dana Cummings into Christian Wolff’s emotional superpower
What makes this potential comeback even more exciting is how it flips the script on genre expectations. The Accountant series has always walked a line between action, thriller, and emotional drama — and Kendrick’s return could push that balance even further. Instead of another “puzzle movie,” as O’Connor calls them, the third film might be about connection, trust, and what it means for a neurodivergent character like Christian to truly open up.
For a franchise that’s been described as “Rain Man on steroids” meets 50 Cent,” the idea of Christian Wolff finding love through Dana Cummings is surprisingly powerful. It’s not about softening the character — it’s about completing him. And after two films of breaking down numbers and building up brotherly bonds, that emotional payoff could elevate the entire series.
So, while Anna Kendrick may not have been in The Accountant 2, her Dana Cummings is looming larger than ever in the trilogy’s future. And that’s not just a tease — it’s a promise of a role that could let Kendrick reclaim the franchise in the most meaningful way possible.