With over $210 million at the U.S. box office, is anyone surprised "The Hangover 2" is a go?
Variety reports that film's director, Todd Phillips, has committed to helm a sequel to the megahit that will be released on Memorial Day 2011. Warner Bros. is actually hoping lighting strikes three times with Phillips as they have greenlit another comedy he was developing, "Due Date," to begin production this October for released in June 2010. "Hangover 2" will follow.
Both films should mean a lot of bonding time for Phillips and his "Hangover" star Zach Galifanakis. The comedian will play a supporting role in "Due Date" and, along with stars Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms, is expected to return for another round of "Hangover" fun.
The trade also disclosed that Phillips made a huge payday on the first "Hangover" by waving his normal fee and working for scale on the $34 million budgeted comedy. Now, Phillips will get 15% of the gross profits which once worldwide box office is taken into account, could be north of $40 million. It's unclear if Phillips took the same deal on "Due Date" and the "Hangover" sequel, both of which should cost considerably more overall.
While Phillips preps the two films, Galifanakis will be seen in the upcoming HBO Series "Bored to Death" and the Michael Cera flick "Youth in Revolt."
-Hitfix
Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:30 am
