Todd Phillips, the director of The Hangover (and Old School and Road Trip) is a hot property after his latest movie's runaway success. (Second-highest grossing U.S. comedy of all time? You bet.) According to this piece in Variety, Phillips also stands to make more than $30 million for himself on The Hangover—all because he insisted on a great cast. (He got a portion of the revenues rather than a fat salary—basically gambling on himself to succeed. And the dude is a gambler, did you see him on World Poker Tour?)
He's simultaneously helped make an A.V. Club hero, Zach Galifianakis, into something of a star. (Incidientally, did you know that Zach contributed to the upcoming A.V. Club book, available October 13?) And now Phillips has his next two movies scheduled, both featuring Mr. Galifianakis. (I just like typing that word.) Due Date, a "comedy about fatherhood in which an expectant dad and his unlikely travel companion (Galifianakis) race cross-country in hopes of making it home for the birth of his first child" and, of course, The Hangover 2.
Here's an interview I did with Zach a couple of years ago.Below, something that never fails to make me laugh.