This is the news that Mel Gibson will NOT be appearing in the sequel to last years comedy hit THE HANGOVER. The director had previously all but announced Gibson’s involvement with the film but was yesterday forced to retract his comments. The problem, it seems, did not lie with the studio; who had already accepted Gibsons involvement in the film but instead from the fellow members of the production crew involved in THE HANGOVER 2.
Director Todd Phillips had this to say ” I thought Mel would have been great in the film… but But I realise film making is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew.”
The decision comes after a storm of bad publicity around Mel’s private life. He currently stands accused of domestic violence and allegations of racial discrimination. He came under fire when his directorial effort THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST was accused of being anti-semitic, an accusation which Gibson staunchly denied.
The original HANGOVER; about a stag party that goes astray in Las Vegas, was a global success that took $467 USD (£297m). What we do know about this sequel is that it will re-unite Bradley Cooper, Ed Helm, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha and that it is currently slated for release in 2011.
