Mel Gibson out of Hangover 2 after cast objects
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Scandal-ridden Hollywood star Mel Gibson has lost out on a cameo part in the movie sequel to smash hit comedy "The Hangover" after objections from the cast and crew, the film's director said on Thursday.
Director Todd Phillips and film studio Warner Bros were ready to cast the Oscar-winning actor and director of movies such as "Braveheart" as a tattoo artist in "The Hangover 2", but have now withdrawn the offer.
"I thought Mel would have been great in the movie and I had the full backing of (the studio)," Phillips said in a joint statement with Warner Bros. "But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew."
"The Hangover 2" will reunite Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha, who starred in the 2009 original in which the friends try to piece together events of a rowdy Las Vegas bachelor party and find their lost buddy. The movie raked in more than $467 million at global box offices.
No reason was given for the apparent rebellion against Gibson performing in the sequel, but it follows a scandal that has engulfed Gibson for months over audiotapes of phone calls in which he rants at his former girlfriend.
Gibson, who has remained silent in the face of months of damaging publicity, also offended Hollywood's Jewish community with an anti-Semitic tirade after a 2006 drunk driving arrest.
Gibson's representative had no comment on Thursday.
Los Angeles police are investigating Gibson, 54, on suspicion of domestic abuse against his ex-lover, Russian-born singer Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he has a one year-old daughter. Grigorieva, 40, is being investigated for possible extortion against Gibson. Neither have been charged.
The pair split in early 2010 and have been fighting in the courts over custody of their daughter.
Gibson, who won Oscars for directing and producing "Braveheart" and had a hit with "Passion of the Christ", returned to major movie acting in January in "Edge of Darkness" after eight years away.
