Anna Kendrick is keen to return for 'The Accountant 3'.

The 39-year-old actress didn't reprise her role as Dana Cummings in the recently-released sequel but director Gavin O'Connor is planning a third movie and has already asked her to be part of it.

Asked if there are plans for a third movie, lead star Ben Affleck - who plays autistic accountant Christian Wolff - told the New York Times newspaper: "That's a question I want to ask Bill [Dubuque, writer] and Gavin. I'm just waiting for another great script."

Gavin said: "Bill and I have had some preliminary conversations. I am personally running from another puzzle movie, which we've done twice now. One thing we've talked about is the idea of bringing Anna Kendrick back. Maybe Christian can finally get the love that he deserves."

Gavin's comment prompted Ben to joke that he and the team are hoping Anna "still likes" them, prompting the director to reveal he'd already discussed the return with the 'Pitch Perfect' star.

He said: "Actually, Ben, she and I have been texting. She said she's a hundred percent in if we want."

Ben replied: "Oh, beautiful. Then it's really down to you guys to mess it up."

In another interview, Gavin explained Anna's character was never meant to be in the sequel because the "whole point" of the movie was the relationship between Christian and his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal) following their emotional reunion in the 2016 thriller.

He told Entertainment Weekly: "We always wanted it to be three movies.

"When Bill and I started talking about the second movie, it was very important that we didn't want a love story. We wanted a love story with brothers. We wanted to do a '48 Hours' or 'Midnight Run' kind of buddy picture...

"I mean, how do I bring Anna into the second and then ignore her? The whole point was exploring the brothers and that emotional line between them. That was always the intention, so she was never going to be in the second."

The filmmaker confirmed his planned third movie will likely feature a love story.

He said: "Then the third movie, which is what the plan has always been, is for [Chris'] quest for love and connection to be consummated. I don't know what that's going to be yet, but that's the intention...

"I'm going to probably do something that makes me interested to come to work every day and tell a story. And then, lastly, yes, if it's going to be Anna, Chris needs to find love and find connection and go off into the sunset. So it probably will be with Dana Cummings."