When someone pictures Mel Gibson, the image of a strong guy comes to mind. After all, that’s the kind of film the actor built his image on. From Braveheart to The Patriot, his films have mostly been about the traditional male hero saving the day. And he has made a bank with those films as well.
However, in the current landscape, Gibson’s image isn’t the same anymore. From accusations of anti-semitism to allegations of domestic battery and more, the brightness of his star has dimmed. Also, what made matters worse for him was the physical decline of his body.
When Mel Gibson Went Overboard Trying To Put On Weight For His Santa Claus Film
For the 2020 film Fatman, Mel Gibson had to put on weight so that he could become an overweight Santa Claus. The actor was so committed to portraying the part right that he almost overshot the ideal weight. But directors Eshom and Ian Nelms reeled him back in. Gibson said:
“I am reasonably porky. I said to the boys (the directors), ‘Hey should I eat more ice cream and cookies?’. But they said, ‘No you are perfect. Leave it like that. Just because we call it Fatman does not mean you have to be obese’.”
Ultimately, the actor looked the part of a beleaguered and tired Father Christmas perfectly in the film and didn’t look obese at all. But what made the director cast Gibson for the role of Santa Claus in their gritty and grounded depiction of the mythological man? It was mostly because of the actor’s white long beard.
Why Did Fatman Directors Cast Mel Gibson As Santa Claus?
In an interview with Den of Geek, Fatman directors, brothers Eshom and Ian Nelms, revealed that their hearts were set on Mel Gibson from the moment they set eyes on him in 2016. They saw him during a Q&A where he was promoting Hacksaw Ridge.
The directors recalled:
“Gibson came out and he had this amazing beard. He was a little slumped over and kneading his beard, very passionately talking to the audience about what he was excited about in the film… But he also was right at the end of that award circuit, and you could see that he was a little worn out… a guy that was a little beaten down at that point. We instantly looked at each other and we’re like, ‘That’s the guy.”
Fatman wasn’t able to resurrect Gibson’s career or connect him to Hollywood in the way he must have hoped it would have. After all, with limited theatrical release, it only grossed $1.3 million and was severely panned by critics and audiences.
Fatman is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Den of Geek and The Sun
