Secrets & Lies fame-Marianne Jean-Baptiste has been roped in to play an important role in the upcoming action-comedy, Fatman, headlined by Mel Gibson. The film will be directed by Ian and Eshom Nelms from their own script.

The story revolves around Gibson's rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus who is fighting his business decline, while a neglected and precocious 12-year-old hires a hitman to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Also starring Walton Goggins, the film will be produced by Brandon James of Rough House, Nadine de Barros of Fortitude and Lisa Wolofsky of Skywolf.

Jean-Baptiste's credits include Peter Strickland's indie In Fabric, Amazon series Homecoming, and Netflix's Soundtrack.