Mel Gibson was ordered to stop eating - in case he became too big to play Father Christmas.
Eshom and Ian Nelms' upcoming project Fatman sees Mel, 64, embody famously big Santa Claus, and he's been piling on the pounds in preparation.
The alternative role sees a boozy, troubled take on Santa for the Amazon Prime flick.
And Oscar-winner Mel was told to put down the fork because he would become too big even for the character.
He shared: "I am reasonably porky. I said to the boys, 'Hey, should I eat more ice cream and cookies?'
"But they said, 'No, you're perfect, leave it like that.'
"'Just because we call it Fatman doesn't mean you have to be obese'."
He added to The Sun : "Believe me, I have the post 50 years of age insulin gut. Don't worry - I am carrying."
The film sees Mel grapple with badly behaved kids, marital troubles with Mrs Claus, and an assassin hired by a maniacal 12-year-old.
And Mel's confident in the film's quirky premise, saying it strips away the legend to examine how a man like Santa would really think and feel.
He continued: "For me, it was taking an iconic character and examining the reality of who that guy might really be if he had the rest of the problems the most of the world has.
"Like if he has a mortgage to pay, if he's got a sore back, if he's fighting with his wife.
"It examines the humanity of who Santa might be without the big fantasy legend."
Aussie Mel's carved out a career as Hollywood tough guy, and boasts film credits including The Patriot, Braveheart, Mad Max and the Lethal Weapon series.
And in 1985, his heartthrob status carried him all the way to People magazine's first ever Sexiest Man title.
Mel was hospitalised in Los Angeles earlier this year during a Covid battle.
The Daily Telegraph first reported that the star had to check in after testing positive for the deadly bug.
"He tested positive in April and spent a week in the hospital," his rep confirmed.
