In April 2009 Warner Bros. set director Todd Phillips to write a sequel to The Hangover with Scot Armstrong. The dealmaking came two months before The Hangover was released on June 5, 2009. While studios often wait to see box office results before committing to a sequel, The Hangover tested strongly, and a trailer brought down the house at ShoWest.
Variety later reported in July 2009, that production on The Hangover 2 would begin in October 2010, for a Memorial Day 2011 release, following the same production schedule used for the first film. Also in July Zach Galifianakis stated in an interview with Latino Review that the film will be set in Thailand, "Well, I think we're going to Thailand. The problem with 'Hangover 2' is that we have to live up to what we did which is very difficult. So we get, I think, kind of kidnapped. It has nothing to do with the bachelor party. We're definitely not doing that again but we do end up in an exotic location. That's all I know".
In January 2010 director Todd Phillips dismissed rumors that Zac Efron would join the cast of The Hangover 2, though actor Ed Helms stated Efron would be a welcomed addition, commenting, "I love that guy. He's actually really funny".
In March 2010 Todd Phillips denied reports that the film would take place in Mexico or Thailand stating, "I don’t know. There’s a lot of rumors. There was rumor also that it was going to Mexico or something and neither are true". Also in March it was reported that Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha had all completed talks and were ready to sign deals to reprise their roles in the sequel. Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms will each reportedly be paid in the vicinity of $5 million against 4% of first dollar gross. Director/producer Todd Phillips will reportedly be paid around $10 million against 10%. Phillips was also offered escalators and bonuses to ensure that if the sequel does anywhere close to the original’s $467 million worldwide gross, then he would not make less than his income on the original.
In June 2010, before accepting the Guy Movie of the Year award on the Spike Guys Choice Awards, director Todd Phillips announced that there will be a Hangover 2 and are hoping to begin filming around October 15, 2010 for a July 4, 2011 weekend release.
In July 2010 it was confirmed that film will indeed be set in Thailand and earlier comments made by Todd Phillips denying such reports was a deliberate case of misdirection.[17] The following month Bradley Cooper stated he believes the rumors to be true and was looking forward to filming The Hangover 2 in Thailand.
In October 2010, it was confirmed by director Todd Phillips that the film would take place in Bangkok and Los Angeles and that Galifianakis, Cooper, Helms and Jeong would be returning. Filming of The Hangover 2 began on October 8, 2010 in Ontario, California with the first images of production being released a few days later. It was also reported in October that actress Heather Graham would not be reprising her role as Jade from the first film. Later in the same month it was reported that Mel Gibson would have a cameo appearance in the film as a Bangkok tattoo artist. Four days later Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures and director Todd Phillips confirmed that Gibson would not be appearing in the film. Phillips stated: “I thought Mel would have been great in the movie and I had the full backing of [WB president] Jeff Robinov and his team. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew." Liam Neeson stepped in to replace Mel Gibson after he was invited to take the cameo role via his A-Team co-star Bradley Cooper. Neeson, a fan of the first film stated, "I just got a call to do a one day shoot on 'Hangover 2' as a tattooist in Thailand, and that's all I know about it". Gibson was reportedly furious over the decision. A source close to Gibson stated, "He doesn't understand why Mike Tyson, a drug user who turned his life around, was given a chance while Mel was kicked to the curb. Everybody deserves a second chance".
In November 2010 it was reported that Jamie Chung had been cast in the film as Stu's fiance as well as it being renamed, The Hangover: Part II. In an interview director Todd Phillips revealed that Mike Tyson would be back in the sequel. Also in November it was reported that Paul Giamatti had joined the cast. The next day it was reported that former U.S. President Bill Clinton filmed a cameo appearance for the film in Bangkok while he was in the city to deliver a speech on clean energy. However Ed Helms clarified that Clinton merely visited the set and would be surprised if he appeared in the film.
In December 2010 it was reported that Bryan Callen, who played the owner of the wedding chapel in The Hangover, is working again in The Hangover: Part II, as “a smarmy strip club owner in Bangkok”. Also in December, Australian stuntman Scott McLean was seriously injured in a traffic accident while filming a stunt sequence near Bangkok. Warner Bros. issued a statement stating McLean was put into a medically induced coma but is expected to recover.
In February 2011 it was reported that Christophe Beck would be reteaming with director Todd Phillips to score the film. The project marks the fourth collaboration between Beck and Philips, who also worked together on School for Scoundrels, The Hangover and Due Date.
source: wikipedia.org
