After featuring in two projects in 2024 and kicking off 2025 withFlight Risk, the aviation thriller directed byMel Gibson, it’s shaping up to be a relatively quiet year forMark Wahlberg. However, just because he might not be appearing in any projects the rest of the year doesn’t mean he isn’t still hard at work, and one of his movies in the works just got a major update. A new report fromDeadlineannounced thatYahya Abdul-Mateen II, who will be seen later this year inMarvel Studios’Wonder Man, has joined Wahlberg in the cast ofBy Any Means. The role originally belonged toSterling K. Brownwhen the film was announced in October, but he has since departed the project and been replaced by Mateen II.
By Any Meansis based on the true story of a mafia hitman and a young Black special agent who were hired to complete an off-the-books job for Hoover’s FBI of hunting down the persons responsible for the 1966 Civil Rights murders in Mississippi. The script comes fromTheodore WitcherandSascha Penn, with directorElegance Brattonand Witcher working together to complete several revisions of the script before it was up to snuff. The project does not yet have an official release date, and it’s also unclear when it plans to begin filming. Bratton made his directorial debut in 2019 onPier Kids, and he followed that up a few years later withThe Inspection, the 2022 R-rated dramastarringJeremy PopeandGabrielle UnionalongsideRaúl Castillothat’s streaming onParamount+.
What Other Projects Do Mateen II and Wahlberg Have in the Works?
Mateen is best known for his role as Manta in theJason Momoa-ledAquamanmovies, and after he features inWonder Manlater this year, he’s also been tapped to star alongsideBobby Cannavalein a TV adaptation ofMan on Fire, the popularDenzel Washingtonmovie. Wahlberg is in the midst of production onPlay Dirty, another crime thriller fromShane Blackthat also starsDermot Mulroney, and he’ll work withPaul Walter HauseronBalls Up. He’s also set to reprise his role as Dan Morgan in a sequel toThe Family Plan, which has addedGame of ThronesstarKit Harington.
By Any Meansstars Mark Wahlbrg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and will be written by Theodore Witcher and Sascha Penn, and directed by Elegance Bratton. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the project.
