By Any Means (2026) is an upcoming historical crime thriller directed by Elegance Bratton and written by Sascha Penn. The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Wayne Strider, a young Black FBI agent, opposite Mark Wahlberg as Gregory “Greg” Scarpa, a notorious Mafia hitman. Set in Mississippi in 1966, the story is inspired by real events surrounding the murders and intimidation of civil-rights activists. Strider is dispatched to investigate a series of killings, but the FBI’s ability to operate in the deeply segregated and hostile environment is severely limited.
The film’s central hook is the unlikely partnership between Strider and Scarpa: an FBI agent operating within the law and a Mafia killer who is willing to operate completely outside it. As they pursue those responsible for the killings, the investigation becomes increasingly morally complicated, with the distinction between justice, revenge, and institutional failure beginning to disappear. The supporting cast includes Nicole Beharie, Giancarlo Esposito as civil-rights leader Vernon Dahmer, Josh Lucas, David Strathairn, Ethan Embry, LisaGay Hamilton and LaChanze. The movie is scheduled for theatrical release through Paramount Pictures on September 4, 2026. Check out the final trailer here.