Paramount Pictures has released the official trailer for By Any Means, an intense crime thriller inspired by true events that places an unlikely partnership at the center of one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
Directed by Elegance Bratton (The Inspection), By Any Means stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a young Black FBI agent sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal murders targeting civil rights leaders. Faced with mounting pressure and a system struggling to deliver justice, he is forced to work alongside an equally dangerous and controversial ally: notorious Mafia hitman Greg Scarpa, played by Mark Wahlberg.
The newly released trailer immediately establishes the film’s tense atmosphere, blending crime thriller elements with the real-world stakes of the Civil Rights Movement. As violence escalates across Mississippi, the two men find themselves navigating a world where the lines between justice, vengeance, and survival become increasingly blurred.
The film’s official synopsis reads:
Based on a true story, a young Black FBI agent (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. Forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg), he finds himself pulled into a deadly hunt where justice and vengeance begin to blur.
One of the trailer’s most compelling aspects is the dynamic between Abdul-Mateen and Wahlberg. Their characters come from entirely different worlds, yet circumstances force them onto the same path as they pursue those responsible for the violence terrorizing Black communities and civil rights advocates throughout the South.
The trailer also highlights the impressive supporting cast, which includes Nicole Beharie, Josh Lucas, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Ethan Embry, David Strathairn, and Giancarlo Esposito. With a cast of this caliber and Bratton behind the camera, By Any Means appears positioned to deliver both a gripping thriller and a thought-provoking examination of power, race, and justice in America.
For many viewers, the film’s premise may feel especially timely. While rooted in historical events, the themes explored in By Any Means continue to resonate today, particularly conversations surrounding institutional justice, accountability, and the lengths individuals are willing to go when the system fails to protect vulnerable communities.
The project is written by Sascha Penn, known for his work on Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and produced by Alex Lebovici, Chester Algernal Gordon, Elegance Bratton, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Mark Wahlberg, and Stephen Levinson.
With its blend of historical drama, crime-thriller intensity, and powerhouse performances, By Any Means is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing theatrical releases arriving this fall.
By Any Means opens exclusively in theaters on September 4, 2026.
Watch the Official Trailer:
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