Ben Affleck and Cynthia Addai-Robinson have both stated that Marybeth Medina is the true protagonist of “The Accountant 2.” They discussed this unique narrative approach in interviews as the film prepares for release.
Here’s why they believe Marybeth takes the lead:
Marybeth as the Audience’s Entry Point: Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who reprises her role as Marybeth Medina, explained, “I always viewed Marybeth as sort of the entry point for the audience because she’s observing and seeing all these things unfold around her and reacting in kind.” She noted that in the first film, Marybeth was “out of her depth,” but in the sequel, eight years later, she has “evolved, grown, she’s in this sort of elevated position within the Treasury Department.” This growth mirrors Addai-Robinson’s own comfort and confidence in reprising the role.
Shifting Narrative Focus: Ben Affleck, who plays Christian Wolff, explicitly stated, “The secret of this movie is that Cynthia is the protagonist, really. And she’s the lead in the movie. She is the entrée for the audience, which means we get to play character parts.” He highlighted that this narrative choice allows him and Jon Bernthal (who plays Christian’s brother, Brax) the “luxury of doing the sort of two-hander as you call odd couple thing,” rather than solely bearing the weight of being the central lead.
Driving the Story: Affleck further elaborated that if you “look at the math of the story, it’s about her being brought into this, seeing this person be killed, trying to find out what it was and what she has to go through to get there. That’s something I find very artful and interesting.” Marybeth’s journey of unraveling the mystery and seeking justice is central to the plot.
In “The Accountant 2,” Marybeth Medina, now the Deputy Director of the Treasury Department’s FinCEN, is drawn into a new investigation after the murder of her former mentor, Raymond King (J.K. Simmons). A cryptic message left by King, “Find the accountant,” leads Marybeth to enlist Christian Wolff’s help. This partnership, initially reluctant, drives the plot as they uncover a deadly conspiracy. This narrative structure positions Marybeth as the primary lens through which the audience experiences the complex events and relationships in the film.
