Zach Galifiankis Drops Out of 'R.I.P.D.'

Friday, 08 April 2011 13:12 Written by Jordan DeSaulnier

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Zach Galifiankis Drops Out of 'R.I.P.D.'

Without Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover would not have worked. His strange energy is the centerpiece of that film, and I expect that will be true of the sequel as well. Outside of that comedy franchise, however, audiences seem already exhausted by Galifianakis. As such, it might be to his benefit that he's bowing out of R.I.P.D. the supernatual buddy cop film in which he was to star alongside Ryan Reynolds.

Deadline reports that the longtime surrealist stand-up comedian departed the project due to scheduling issues. Galifianakis intended to film R.I.P.D. before starting work on Southern Rivals, a Jay Roach comedy headlined by Galifianakis and Will Ferrell. Apparently, though, his would-be R.I.P.D. costar Ryan Reynolds is contractually obligated to appear in a potential sequel to this summer's Green Lantern, and if Warner Bros decides to make that happen quickly, Reynolds and Galifianakis simply would not be available simultaneously.

Don't worry about Zach Galifianakis, as he reunites with Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper in The Hangover Part II, due in theaters on May 26th.

R.I.P.D. is based on a comic book by Peter M. Lenkov, about a recently deceased cop who joins the 'Rest In Peace Department', a supernatural police force that patrols the afterlife. Ryenolds' character, Nick Cruz, can't let go of his life, and is intent of revenge. His partner, Roy Powell, is a former cowboy who has been dead for several hundred years. Galifianakis was oh-so briefly set to play Powell. Though Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin was attached to helm for a spell, Robert Schwentke (Red, Flightplan) is currently the director. It remains to be seen how the film will proceed in light of Ryan Reynolds' very busy schedule.