There has been much hubbub in the past twp weeks regarding the "secret" cameo in Todd Phillips' The Hangover 2. Originally, Mel Gibson, perhaps in an attempt to do a bit of career rehab, was confirmed in the role, playing a tattoo artist that the boys run into. But following complaints from members of the cast and crew, it was revealed that Gibson would no longer be playing the part and that, instead, Liam Neeson would be bringing his star power to the blockbuster comedy sequel. Naturally, there's still some confusion in the air about the whole situation, but Phillips was more than happy to comment on it.

Speaking at a press conference for his upcoming film Due Date, the director was quick to point out that the removal of Gibson from the film was not a firing, but rather a cancellation. When asked about how things played out Phillips responded, "Just to clarify, nobody was ever fired. It’s a term that is so obscene to me. Someone was doing me a favor to come in for a two-minute cameo and we changed it. It wasn’t like we fired somebody. It was doing a favor from the beginning."

As for how Neeson would fit into the project, the reports saying that his character would be intense sound right on the money. "The scene is not maybe what you’d expect in The Hangover," Phillips said. "The Hangover 2 will be an epic comedy, but not every scene, just like the first one, is full of comedy. This had a little bit of gravity to it and I thought that both guys really could add that gravity and that is where were at."

With his gruff voice and character history, there's little doubt that Neeson will be able to pull off the role. The man knows how to be intimidating when he needs to be and though he may very well be a lovely person, I could understand it if people's knees do a bit of quaking when asking him for a favor. Word to the wise: don't stick your fingers in his chest.