Hangover sequel?

Usually studios like to play the waiting game when it comes to sequels. As in, wait and see how it opens and then we’ll decide on a sequel. But in the case of the upcoming comedy THE HANGOVER, Warner Bros. isn’t waiting around. The film isn’t set for release until June but WB is already moving ahead on plans for a Part 2 signing director Todd Phillips and writer Scot Armstrong to immediately begin working on a script. Stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms have all signed on and should things go swimmingly, the studio would like filming to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

So what motivated the urge for a HANGOVER sequel two months before its release? Well for one it’s been testing extremely well and a screening of the trailer in ShoWest had the crowds in stitches. They might also be looking back at the trouble other studios have had getting comedy sequels off the ground after the film does well and the actors become stars. DreamWorks would’ve loved to get OLD SCHOOL 2 going but once Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn became superstars, their salaries got too high and their schedules too booked. I’ve heard really good things about the movie so I call this a smart move by the WB. If you’ve got something good, lock it down.