Did Zach Galifianakis Want Mel Gibson's 'Hangover 2' Cameo Canceled?

The funnyman says that he strongly protested something about the movie

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While Jodie Foster may consider Mel Gibson “the most loved man in the film business,” apparently not everyone shares her opinion. Zach Galifianakis, who helped steal last year’s runaway comedy hit The Hangover, sounds like he’s among them.

In a Comedy Death Ray podcast interview that the shaggy haired funnyman gave (and which was posted in two parts, on Oct. 15 and 22), Galifianakis delivers a pointed comment about the making of The Hangover 2, which was to have featured a cameo by Gibson. That appearance was subsequently canceled almost as soon as news about Gibson’s casting was announced.

Ostensibly on Comedy Death Ray to promote his new movie with Robert Downey Jr., Due Date, Galifianakis explains to interviewer Scott Aukerman that although he was excited by the success of The Hangover, he’s not into a lot of the showbiz scene. Furthermore, he’s against too much gunplay in movies, and he’s even declined several roles on moral grounds.

When it comes to “a movie you’re acting in,” says Galifianakis, 41, “you don’t have a lot of control – you just show up and vomit your lines out. I mean, I’m not the boss. 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 … I’m not making any leeway.”

When Aukerman starts to reveal the title of the movie, Hangover 2, Galifianakis stops him cold.

“It has something to do with a movie I’m working on, yeah,” concedes Galifianakis. “I’ll tell you about it later. It’s very frustrating.”

“I’d love to hear about it,” responds Aukerman.

Doesn’t Name Names

In announcing that Gibson would not be appearing in the Hangover sequel – reputedly in the role of a Bangkok tattoo artist – the movie’s director, Todd Phillips, who also directed Due Date, said, “I thought Mel would have been great in the movie. 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 did not name the individual – or individuals – who objected to the hiring of Gibson, who has weathered a storm of bad publicity over his personal life.

Besides Galifianakis, the sequel is scheduled to reunite stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha.

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