Actor Benjamin Bratt has joined the cast of Snitch for Summit Entertainment and director Ric Roman Waugh (Felon).

The story centers on Dwayne Johnson's character, a father who goes undercover in prison to bust a drug operation so his son will receive a lighter sentence. Benjamin Bratt portrays a major player in the Mexican drug cartel, whose operation is exposed by the father's undercover work. Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper, Jon Bernthal, Melina Kanakaredes, Michael K. Williams, Rafi Gavron, and Nadine Velazquez also star in Snitch.

Ric Roman Waugh is directing Snitch from his own screenplay, which is based on a PBS Frontline documentary. Justin Haythe wrote the original draft of the script.

Production on Snitch started this week in Shreveport, Louisiana, and will wrap on January 19. Summit Entertainment is expected to release Snitch in the first quarter of 2013.