Todd Phillips has explained that the casting of Mel Gibson in The Hangover 2 had nothing to do with his personal life.
Gibson has been over the press in recent months for all the wrong reasons but looked like he was being given a career lifeline when he was cast in a cameo role as a tattoo artist in the movie.
But after some protest from cast and crew about his casting he was axed from the role, which has now gone to Liam Neeson.
Speaking to Hollywood Elsewhere the filmmaker said: "It wasn't so much about the sensationalism of casting Mel Gibson.
"In The Hangover he was never going to play Mel Gibson the way Mike Tyson played Mike Tyson, it was a part. It's a two-minute role, clearly he's a great actor.
"It had nothing to do with his personal life, it wasn't even alluding to that. It was about a guy coming in and crushing a part the way Juliette Lewis comes into Due Date, does two minutes and kills."
Phillips is back in the director's chair this week with his new movie Due Date, his first film since the success of The Hangover last summer.
Due Date is released 5th November.
Tagged in Mel Gibson Todd Phillips