Elegance Bratton’s By Any Means just leveled up. The cast of the upcoming crime thriller has grown with the addition of Nicole Beharie, Giancarlo Esposito, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Josh Lucas, David Strathairn, and Ethan Embry. Production is officially underway in Atlanta.
We previously reported that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II would lead the film alongside Mark Wahlberg. Abdul-Mateen stepped into the role originally attached to Sterling K. Brown, who exited the project due to scheduling conflicts.
What the Film’s About
Based on Sascha Penn’s Black List script CI34, with revisions by Theodore Witcher, By Any Means tells the true story of a mafia hitman who—under an off-the-books arrangement with J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI—teams up with a young Black special agent to hunt down those responsible for the killings of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi.
Esposito will portray Vernon Dahmer, a prominent NAACP leader who was murdered by the KKK for his voter registration efforts. Specific details about the other new cast members’ roles remain under wraps.
Behind the Scenes
The film is produced by Hammerstone Studios, Thunder Road, Freedom Principle, and North.Five.Six. Producers include Alex Lebovici, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chester Algernal Gordon, Stephen Levinson, and Mark Wahlberg under his Closest to the Hole Production banner.
Executive producers include Jonathan Oakes, Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, Warren Goz, Adam Kolbrenner, Sascha Penn, Waylen Lin, Zach Zhang, Logan Coles, Lee Broda, Lee Shira, and Dorit L. Hakim-Kramer. WME Independent and CAA Media Finance are co-repping U.S. rights, with North.Five.Six. overseeing international sales.
With a compelling story, a growing ensemble of heavy hitters, and Bratton’s unique directorial vision, By Any Means is shaping up to be a can’t-miss drama rooted in history and high-stakes storytelling.