Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is stepping into the lead role of By Any Means, the upcoming crime thriller from The Inspection director Elegance Bratton. Abdul-Mateen II replaces Sterling K. Brown, who exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. He’ll star opposite Mark Wahlberg in a gripping true-crime story that dives deep into one of the most shocking chapters of the civil rights era.
Based on the Black List script CI34 by Sascha Penn, By Any Means is inspired by the real-life story of a notorious mafia hitman who—through a secretive, off-the-books deal with J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI—teamed up with a young Black special agent. Together, they hunted down those responsible for the murders of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi. The film promises a tense and layered exploration of race, justice, and the complicated alliances forged in the name of vengeance and redemption.
The project is a collaboration between Hammerstone Studios, Thunder Road, Freedom Principle, and North.Five.Six., the latter handling international sales after first presenting the film at AFM last fall. Alex Lebovici (Barbarian) is producing for Hammerstone Studios, alongside Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for Thunder Road Films, Chester Algernal Gordon for Freedom Principle, and Stephen Levinson and Wahlberg under his Closest to the Hole Production banner. Executive producers include Jonathan Oakes (Hammerstone), Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, Warren Goz (North.Five.Six.), Adam Kolbrenner, Sascha Penn, Waylen Lin, Zach Zhang, and Logan Coles. WME Independent and CAA Media Finance are co-representing U.S. rights.
Abdul-Mateen II is coming off back-to-back high-profile projects, including leading Marvel’s upcoming Wonder Man miniseries, which is set to premiere on Disney+ this December, and starring in Netflix’s Man on Fire, based on A.J. Quinnell’s novels. An Emmy winner for HBO’s Watchmen, Abdul-Mateen II has carved out an impressive career with standout performances in The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Greatest Showman, and DC’s Aquaman franchise. He is represented by M88, WME, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
With production scheduled to begin in March, By Any Means marks another bold directorial venture for Elegance Bratton, whose work—spanning The Inspection and FX’s Grotesquerie—continues to push boundaries. His production company, Freedom Principle, co-run with Chester Algernal Gordon, is cementing itself as a powerhouse for thought-provoking storytelling.