'The Accountant 3' is happening, but fans are confused about when the second one even dropped

The film universe is abuzz with anticipation as The Accountant 3 is officially in the works, bringing an end to the action series. Director Gavin O'Connor, who directed both the original 2016 movie and its sequel, has confirmed that development is underway, reassuring fans that they won't have to wait another eight years for the next installment, according to Screenrant.

This third entry seeks to bring a proper conclusion to the Christian Wolff, enigmatic accountant turned deadly skillset, played by Ben Affleck.

The internet, as always, was quick to joke about The Accountant 3 being announced before The Accountant 2 had even reached the cinema.

Fans were left confused, asking if they somehow missed a movie or if Christian Wolff had been doing some numbers so quickly that he computed a sequel into reality.

A user (@realmcone) humorously asked:

"Wait there is a 2nd one?"

It was so good it skipped right to the third installment.

Another user (@YodaFett_007) added:

"When were the first two released? 🤣🤔"

A user (@Bodhi_Tweets) humorously noted:

"But… wait…"

That’s exactly what the studio execs said before greenlighting the third one.

Poking fun at previous delays, a user (@vivek_naskar) said:

"I am glad, they announced it quickly."

A user reacted with a meme:

A user (@iamchris0408) quipped:

"Are these the only movies Ben Affleck can do these days how many years are going to be in or make?"

As long as there’s math to be done, there will be sequels.

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Background: The Accountant franchise

The Accountant (2016) first met audiences with Christian Wolff, the socially awkward, yet very gifted accountant who happened to possess a secret talent for fighting.

With Ben Affleck playing him, Wolff's curious combination of numerical genius and deadly accuracy created an interesting hero.

The movie was a surprise hit, grossing more than $155 million globally on a budget of $44 million.

The Accountant 2 arrives on April 25, 2025, and Christian Wolff is returning to crunch numbers and crack skulls. He is joined by Jon Bernthal and J.K. Simmons for another bout of high-octane action, mystery, and some seriously intense staring. Director Gavin O'Connor isn't merely contemplating The Accountant 2—he's already scheming The Accountant 3.

He's sat on a vault of ideas for years, holding out for the ideal time to unlock them. But he and Ben Affleck don't want to have that final chapter handed to them.

That is, if The Accountant 2 fails to hit the mark with the public, The Accountant 3 may just remain in the vault.

A Collider report cited Affleck as saying:

“I’m keenly aware of the fact that you kind of have to earn another movie. The worst pitfall is to store a bunch of your good ideas for the next installment. If you don’t create an interest demand the first time out there, you’re just going to be playing that to an empty house.”

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The Accountant 3: What to expect (if we get it)

Although The Accountant 3 is somewhat of an enigma, it will keep the franchise's signature blend of intense action and surprisingly rich character development.

Look for the third installment to delve further into Wolff's history, his ethical conflicts, and the ripple effects of his decisions. However, The Accountant 3 will only be made if The Accountant 2 succeeds.

So, if you want to know how this trilogy concludes, you know what to do.