Mark Wahlberg is set to star in “By Any Means,” a historical thriller that began filming around metro Atlanta on April 7. Production will continue through May 15, primarily based out of Pangaea Studios but filming is taking place across various locations in Georgia. Covington, Griffin, Sharpsburg, and Conyers are being used for both urban and rural settings to authentically depict the 1960s Southern backdrop. “On Location Casting” is managing background casting for the project, which is filming under the code name “EEE.”
What's it About?
The film tells the true story of Gregory Scarpa, a mafia hitman secretly hired by the FBI during the 1960s. Scarpa, portrayed by Wahlberg, was enlisted to help solve racially motivated murders in Mississippi. He partnered with a young Black special agent, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, to pursue those responsible for murdering civil rights leaders in Mississippi in 1966. In 1964, during the investigation into the disappearance of three civil rights workers in Mississippi, Scarpa reportedly assisted the FBI by using his underworld connections to extract information from reluctant witnesses. Similarly, in 1966, he was involved in the interrogation of a Ku Klux Klan member suspected in the firebombing death of activist Vernon Dahmer. These actions, while controversial, were part of the FBI’s efforts to solve racially motivated crimes during that era.
Who's In It?
The cast recently expanded, with Nicole Beharie, Giancarlo Esposito, Josh Lucas, David Strathairn, Ethan Embry, LisaGay Hamilton, and LaChanze joining Wahlberg and Abdul-Mateen, according to Deadline. Esposito will portray Vernon Dahmer, an NAACP leader known for his voter recruitment efforts, who was tragically killed by the KKK. Esposito is best known for his roles of Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian.
Sterling K. Brown was initially attached to the film but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, leading to Abdul-Mateen stepping into the role. Recently, Wahlberg and Abdul-Mateen were seen filming on set in Atlanta, Wahlberg dressed in a brown suit with aviator sunglasses and Abdul-Mateen positioned near a payphone. View the pictures here.
