Mel Gibson’s Santa Claus crime comedy Fatman to slide down Saban’s chimney

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Christmas will be here before you know it, folks. You know, that magical time of the year when Black Friday sales overshadow the concept of merriment and your worth as a parent is measured in presents? It's a holly jolly holiday to be certain and now Saban is making sure that Mel Gibson has something special under his tree by picking up the U.S. rights to FATMAN, an upcoming crime comedy starring the LETHAL WEAPON veteran as a rowdy Santa Claus.

Written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, FATMAN tells the unconventional holiday tale of a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus (Gibson) who is fighting his business decline. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12-year-old, hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste will also star in the upcoming film featuring plenty of holiday hijinks.

FATMAN will be produced by Brandon James of Rough House, Nadine de Barros of Fortitude, and Lisa Wolofsky of Skywolf. Meanwhile, James’ Rough House partners David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Jody Hill will executive produce.

“This rowdy Santa tale is a film we’ve been excited to make for some time and we’re thrilled to have equally passionate partners in Rough House and Fortitude who carry the same fire!” said Eshom and Ian Nelms.

Gibson recently completed work on BOSS LEVEL, an action sci-fi thriller from director Joe Carnahan. In the film, a retired special forces officer is trapped in a never-ending time loop on the day of his death. Gibson will play Col. Clive Ventor in the film, in which Annabelle Wallis, Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts, Michelle Yeoh, and Ken Jeong also star.

We'll be sure to bring you more updates for FATMAN as the project develops.