14 DAY TRIAL // What was meant to be a decent-budget comedy turned out to be an unexpected hit when it was released in 2009. These days, it's OK to speak of “The Hangover” as of a franchise – so Warner Bros. will have to pay big money to bring a third installment to the big screen.
Released in 2010, “The Hangover 2” was the biggest opening ever for a comedy and the record was set even with the restrictive rating by the MPAA.
As such, a third film was to be expected even from back then.
However, since the release, the cast has been deep in negotiations with the movie studio – and the reason is simple: they want more money.
The Hollywood Reporter says the three leading men, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms are asking for three times more money than they got for the second film, plus a share of the backend.
“Dealmaking on the studio’s third installment in the raunchy comedy franchise is wrapping up after dragging on for months due in part to the salary demands of its three stars,” THR writes.
“Sources close to the negotiations say Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms are asking for $15 million [€11.4 million] each (against backend) to reprise their roles, and they now are likely to get it,” adds the report.
That's three times more they got for the second film ($5 million / €3.8 million) and 15 times their salary for the first – not bad for three years' work.
What's more, they're also very likely to get it, mostly because Warners already knows that a “Hangover” film is a guaranteed success.
Oppositely, making a third installment without its main stars would mean driving audiences away and killing the chances for a new potential installment.
“Warners hopes the next film, a Los Angeles-based story that will deviate from the forgotten-debauchery formula of the first movies, can shoot this summer and be ready for a Memorial Day 2013 release,” THR adds.
“It’ll happen. It’s a proven commodity, which is rare these days,” adds an industry insider.