Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has been cast in By Any Means, an upcoming crime thriller directed by Elegance Bratton. He will star alongside Mark Wahlberg in a film based on real events involving a mafia hitman working with the FBI to track down those behind the killings of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi.
The role was originally assigned to Sterling K. Brown, who exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. The film is based on CI34, a screenplay by Sascha Penn and Theodore Witcher, which appeared on the Black List, an industry-recognized collection of unproduced scripts. Witcher completed multiple revisions, with Bratton also contributing to the development process.
The project is backed by several production companies, including Hammerstone Studios, Thunder Road, and Freedom Principle. International sales are being handled by North.Five.Six., which introduced the film to buyers at the American Film Market. Producers include Alex Lebovici (Hammerstone Studios), Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee (Thunder Road Films), Chester Algernal Gordon (Freedom Principle), Stephen Levinson, and Wahlberg, through his Closest to the Hole Production banner. Executive producers include Jonathan Oakes, Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, and Warren Goz (North.Five.Six.), along with Adam Kolbrenner, Sascha Penn, Waylen Lin, Zach Zhang, and Logan Coles. WME Independent and CAA Media Finance are managing U.S. rights.
Abdul-Mateen II has taken on multiple high-profile projects in recent years. He recently completed work on Wonder Man, a Marvel miniseries set to premiere on Disney+ in December, where he plays the lead character. He is also involved in Netflix’s upcoming Man on Fire, adapted from the books by A.J. Quinnell. His career includes an Emmy-winning performance in HBO’s Watchmen, along with roles in The Trial of the Chicago 7, Aquaman, and The Greatest Showman.
Bratton, recognized for The Inspection, directs a story that merges crime, history, and law enforcement. Wahlberg, a longtime presence in action and crime films, continues his involvement in the genre with this role. Production schedules and additional casting details have not yet been released.
