Paramount Locks in September 2026 Release for Wahlberg and Abdul-Mateen II Thriller
‘By Any Means’: Paramount Locks in September 2026 Release for Wahlberg and Abdul-Mateen II Thriller
LOS ANGELES — Paramount Pictures has officially fired the starting pistol for its next major crime thriller, securing the rights and a prime theatrical window for By Any Means. The film, which unites Hollywood heavyweights Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, has been handed a high-profile 4th September 2026 release date, strategically positioning it for the lucrative Labor Day weekend in the States.
The deal, finalised late last week, sees Paramount acquiring all U.S. media rights for the project directed by Elegance Bratton, the visionary filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed 2022 drama The Inspection.
An Unlikely Alliance in the Deep South
Loosely inspired by a true story, the film transports audiences to 1966 Mississippi during a period of immense civil unrest. The plot follows a "volatile partnership" between a hardened Mafia hitman (Wahlberg) and a young Black FBI agent (Abdul-Mateen II).
The duo is forced into an uneasy alliance to track down the figures responsible for the targeted killings of civil rights leaders. Director Elegance Bratton described the project as an exploration of the moral "grey areas" inherent in the fight for justice.
“This is a story about unlikely alliances forged under impossible circumstances,” Bratton said in an official statement. “I wanted to explore what it means to confront violence not just as an act, but as a system and what it demands of those caught inside it.”
A Star-Studded Ensemble
Beyond the central star power, Paramount has assembled an impressive supporting cast featuring Emmy winners and industry veterans.
By Any Means – Key Details
| Category | Information |
| Director | Elegance Bratton (The Inspection) |
| Lead Stars | Mark Wahlberg, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II |
| Supporting Cast | Nicole Beharie, Giancarlo Esposito, David Strathairn |
| Screenplay | Sascha Penn (Power Book III: Raising Kanan) |
| Release Date | 4th September 2026 |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
Production Pedigree
The script, penned by Sascha Penn, was a highly sought-after commodity in Hollywood before landing at Paramount. The production is a joint effort between several powerhouse banners, including Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road Films (John Wick franchise), Hammerstone Studios, and Wahlberg’s own Municipal banner.
The acquisition comes during a period of transition for Paramount, which has been the subject of intense merger speculation and leadership changes throughout the first quarter of 2026. By locking in a prestige thriller for the autumn 2026 window, the studio is signaling "business as usual" for its theatrical slate.
The ‘Box Office’ Battle
By claiming the 4th September slot, By Any Means will go head-to-head with Amazon MGM Studios' high-concept heist film How to Rob a Bank, directed by David Leitch (Bullet Train). Industry analysts suggest that Paramount’s film, with its historical weight and star-driven leads, is being positioned as a "bridge" between the summer blockbuster season and the winter awards race.
For Wahlberg, the project marks a return to the gritty, character-driven crime dramas that defined his early career, such as The Departed. For Abdul-Mateen II, fresh off his success in the Aquaman and Matrix franchises, it represents another significant step into the realm of prestige leading roles.
