Given that The Hangover took an astonishing worldwide gross of over $460 million to become the ultimate summer sleeper hit back in 2009, a sequel was always going to be on the cards. However, director Todd Phillips claims he always had plans to make a second movie even before it made such a killing.

We were thinking of sequel ideas when we were shooting,” Phillips told MTV back in 2009. “It sounds cocky, but we were doing it more because it was just fun to talk about ideas while hanging out on the set. Now that the movie has really connected, it’s something we’re doing for sure.”

“I love The Hangover so much,” he continued, “and I think we could crush it with the sequel. I’ve never had more fun making a movie, ever. Not that Old School wasn’t fun, but these guys were so hungry and ready to kick ass everyday. We just all gelled so well.”

How lovely. Not that Phillips was the only one to wax lyrical about a potential sequel, with two of his stars helpfully chipping in with potential storylines.

“I hope The Hangover 2 is just Doug,” said Justin Bartha, who unsurprisingly plays Doug. “He loses the three friends and has to go find them. I have a feeling that’s not what’s going to happen, but either way, I’m very excited about it.”

“I think we would go take a submarine to Atlantis,” suggests Ed Helms, “and live with people that are half-person, half-sea horse. I’d probably hook up with Ariel the little mermaid , and there would probably be a little Caribbean crab that sang calypso songs.”

Okay, we’re sold, but perhaps surprisingly, it took a little while before Zach Galifianakis was…