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The Hangover Part II Bits: Todd Phillips Talks Title Nod and Hangover 3, Mel Gibson Talks Cameo Snub and the Latest TV Trailer

While The Hangover Part II won't open for another month, promotional material for the highly-anticipated sequel continues to arrive online in the form of new posters, TV spots, or statements from co-writer and director Todd Phillips about whether or not he taught a monkey how to smoke cigarettes for the movie.

In a recent interview with MTV, Phillips cleared up another issue involving the sequel's title. Originally thought to be called "The Hangover 2, Phillips explained why he changed it to "The Hangover Part II."

I think there are very few sequels that have been made that live up to or exceed their first film. The Godfather [sequel] is the first one. We had always planned on calling it The Hangover 2, and when we finished the script, I changed the cover page and wrote The Hangover Part II, because I think the film lives up to or exceeds the first one. It was very much a nod to The Godfather [franchise].

Another issue that is continually brought up about the sequel is the proposed cameo from Mel Gibson which was recast after members of the cast and crew balked at the idea (despite the presence of convicted rapist Mike Tyson appearing in both the first Hangover and the sequel). Liam Neeson filled in for Gibson, but he too was replaced by Nick Cassavetes after scheduling issues forbade Neeson from participating in reshoots.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Gibson spoke about several issues involving his personal life and, for the first time, discussed his feelings about being cut from The Hangover Part II.

You have to let that go. I sat here and talked to [director] Todd [Phillips] about it. I like Todd. How could you not like Todd? He’s smart and he’s gifted and so are the other people in the film. It’s okay. You just have to let that go. It shows you a few things. You just move on and go okay. I’m not greatly offended by it. It seemed like a good idea at the time and it went south.

Also arriving for The Hangover Part II is yet another TV spot which shows Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, and Ken Jeong wake up in Bangkok, Thailand, after yet another night of debauchery that no one can remember.

While it may seem too absurd for some that another Hangover could happen again (which, we imagine, is kind of the point of the sequel), Phillips told MTV it might not be the last time the Wolfpack gets together.

I could [do a third]. And I'm only saying that because we love working together — me, Ed, Bradley, Zach, Justin, Ken Jeong. We have such a good time on these movies. I know it sounds absurd, but I see other movies that have gone to three and you go, "I get why they do it." It's actually fun. We just spend the whole day laughing and trying to make a movie.