Jamie Chung Joins The Hangover 2; Director Discusses Mel Gibson's Recasting
Posted 11.05.10 by Ryan
The Hangover 2 started shooting last month, amidst reports that the movie will take place in Thailand instead of Las Vegas. The latest casting gives a possible clue as to what the gang is doing in the foreign country.
THR reports that Jamie Chung (Dragonball Evolution) has been cast in the upcoming sequel as Ed Helms's new fiancee, replacing Heather Graham as Helms' love interest and possibly revealing that Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Helms are in Thailand for yet another bachelor party.
Still not joining the production is Mel Gibson, who was dismissed from making a cameo as a Bangkok tattoo artist after an internal backlash caused Gibson to be replaced by Liam Neeson. Director Todd Phillips recently admitted to MTV that he was "surprised" by the reaction to Gibson's casting.
Regret is the wrong word, but I was surprised in some way by the reaction. I think in that community in Hollywood, we've often seen — and I certainly have empathy for people that have struggled, whether it's alcohol addiction in [Gibson's] case or whatever it may be, there is empathy. I was a little bit surprised by people, and I'm not even talking about our family, the Hangover family. I'm talking about the outside world's sort of lack of empathy.
Phillips said he may have underestimated the high profile nature of The Hangover 2.
I've always made comedies, and I think comedies in general tend to fly under the radar. So maybe [I regret] not realizing that we're not making a movie that's going to fly under the radar, that three months before we even start shooting it, people are going to weigh in with opinions and tell us how it's not going to be funny or how this isn't a good idea, you know what I mean? When it's like, "Hey, give us a shot to make the movie, then weigh in."
Despite the re-casting, Phillips says that the cameo won't change since the role wasn't specifically written for Gibson, unlike Mike Tyson's cameo in The Hangover.
It's essentially the same part, because Mel was never playing Mel in the movie in the way that Mike Tyson was playing Mike Tyson. It was very different. [Gibson] was coming in to add a little bit of weight to the situation that unfolds in Bangkok, so we just needed an actor that brings weight. I think Mel and Liam, and there are probably four other guys in that age range that sort of bring that gravitas.
Tyson will also return for Hangover 2, along with Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow. The sequel opens May 26, 2011.