„By Any Means“" is an American historical crime thriller inspired by true events that combines a tense investigation with the painful pages of the civil rights struggle in the United States in the 1960s. Directed by Elegance Bratton, known for her award-winning film "„Check“", and the screenplay was written by Sasha Penn based on an idea inspired by actual historical figures and events. The film is a production of Hammerstone Studios and Thunder Road Films, and its premiere is scheduled for September 4, 2026 in theaters in the United States, distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The action takes place in the state of Mississippi in 1966 - a period marked by racial tension and violence against civil rights activists. At the center of the story is a young African-American FBI agent who is assigned to investigate a series of murders of public leaders. To get to the perpetrators, he is forced to work side by side with the famous mafia hitman Greg Scarpa - a man whose methods often conflict with the law. Gradually, the two enter a dangerous world where the line between justice and revenge begins to blur, and each subsequent decision carries grave moral consequences.
Starring Greg Scarpa Mark Wahlberg makes one of the most unusual physical transformations of his career, almost unrecognizable under heavy makeup and prosthetics. Next to him Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays the role of a young FBI agent who must find a balance between the law and the need to stop crime. The film also stars Nicole Behari, Giancarlo Esposito, David Strathairn, Josh Lucas, Ethan Embry, LisaGay Hamilton and LaChampagne, who form an impressive ensemble of characters, recreating the tense atmosphere of the American South in the 1960s.
After the intensely personal drama "„The Inspection“, Elegance Bratton is moving towards a large-scale historical thriller, without abandoning its interest in themes of justice, racial inequality and moral choice. Rather than turning the story into a simple crime action film, the director emphasizes the complex relationship between the two main characters and the price they pay for their cause. Sacha Penn's script skillfully combines historical facts with tense genre storytelling, without losing the human dimension of the story.
With the first trailer "„By Any Means“" has attracted serious attention. The most commented on were Mark Wahlberg's impressive transformation, the strong presence of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and the unusual idea of two completely different men being forced to work together against a common enemy. The film is expected to offer not only a tense crime story, but also an in-depth look at one of the most turbulent eras in American history.
„By Any Means“" looks like a production that successfully combines historical drama, crime thriller, and a deeply human story. If it lives up to high expectations, the film has the potential to become one of the most serious and impactful genre titles of 2026.
