Third 'Hangover' on the horizon with co-scribe Craig Mazon returning (DH) (DH, THR)

By Nancy Tartaglione

With the huge "Hangover II" opening, Warner Bros is eyeing a third installment of the franchise, Deadline reported Tuesday. Craig Mazin, who co-wrote the sequel, is in early talks to come back to write the new script, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Story details are being kept secret but director Todd Phillips recently said he had a "deadly serious" idea in mind.

Phillips, speaking to Vulture at the film's premiere last month said, "It will not revolve around a wedding, and it will not revolve around a forgotten night, I'll tell you that much. It's just a different structure. We'll see."

Amsterdam could be a possible setting, according to THR.

Deadline pointed out that "The Hangover: Part II" was commissioned before the original picture opened based on test audiences reaction, but now there are hurdles to overcome.

DH:

Warner Bros threatened to scrap The Hangover Part II because of salary disputes with stars Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms. Those guys were paid less than $1 million collectively to star in the first blockbuster, but luckily for the cast, they had no options for a sequel. Their reps smartly dug their heels in, and the trio each got around $5 million against 4% of gross, which ought to mean pretty good backend paydays for The Wolf Pack. Todd Phillips got around $10 million against 10% of the gross, which means that if the sequel does near the original's $467 million in worldwide gross, he'll make as much or more as the original, where he gambled his fee and made around $50 million. He waived his fee to become an equity owner in the film, a move he made as a concession so that the studio would make the R-rated movie for $34 million with Galifianakis, Cooper and Helms.

The trio of actors does not have options for the third film so if "The Hangover: Part II" continues to perform at this rate, they will be in for an even bigger payday, Deadline said.