"Hangover 2": Mel Gibson Cameo Scrapped

NEW YORK (CBS) A cameo by troubled actor Mel Gibson has reportedly been cut from "Hangover 2," the sequel to last summer's hugely popular buddy comedy.

According to published reports, complaints by cast member Zach Galifianakis and others scuttled plans to have the Oscar winner portray a Bangkok tattoo artist in the Todd Phillips movie.

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Warner Bros. Pictures and director Todd Phillips say the embattled actor won't be appearing in the sequel to the popular ensemble comedy. In a statement released to the press, Phillips said, "I thought Mel would have been great in the movie and I had the full backing of [Warner Bros. Pictures 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."

Galifianakis has reportedly been the most outspoken in his opposition to the planned cameo. During a Comedy Death-Ray podcast, he said, "I'm in a deep protest right now with a movie I'm working on, up in arms about something." He did not mention Gibson or the movie by name.

Gibson had been keeping under the radar while he deals with the legal hang-ups and backlash surrounding his bitter split with girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

It is not known whether Gibson's "Hangover 2" character would have referenced his real-life problems. But the original movie did much to reinvent Mike Tyson's image from a troubled drug user into a comedic actor.

The film is set to reunite Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ed Helms, who starred in the 2009 summer blockbuster. The sequel is scheduled for release next year.