Mel Gibson in “The Hangover 2”? Not anymore, says director Todd Phillips.
Though the troubled 54-year-old actor had been confirmed to do a cameo as a Bangkok tattoo artist in the follow-up to the 2009 hit comedy, he has now been cut from the film.
“I thought Mel would have been great in the movie and I had the full backing of Jeff Robinov and his team,” Phillips told CNN in a statement. “But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew.”
Phillips didn’t specify who wasn’t on board with Gibson joining the cast, but some are speculating that it might have been actor Zach Galifianakis, who alluded to problems on the set during a podcast earlier this month, reports New York magazine’s Vulture.
“I’m in a deep protest right now with a movie I’m working on, up in arms about something. But I can’t get the guys to [listen] … I’m not making any leeway,” he said. “I’ll tell you about it later. It’s very frustrating.”
Update, 5:30 p.m.: It looks like Liam Neeson may be taking Mel Gibson’s spot. The actor’s rep tells CNN that reports of Neeson joining the “Hangover 2” cast as a tattoo artist are true “pending clearance of cast and crew background check.
