⚠️This fact has been debunked
This claim is completely fabricated. There is no credible evidence that Lindsay Lohan was ever offered a role in The Hangover or made any such statement. The film's female roles were minor, and the main cast was always envisioned as male. This appears to be an internet rumor with no basis in fact.
Lindsay Lohan was approached to star in The Hangover, but she declined because the screenplay "had no potential."
Was Lindsay Lohan Really Offered The Hangover?
It's one of those Hollywood stories that sounds almost too perfect: a troubled starlet passes on a movie that becomes a massive hit, dismissing it as having "no potential." The internet loves these tales of missed opportunities and celebrity hubris. But is there any truth to the claim that Lindsay Lohan turned down The Hangover?
The short answer: No.
Where Did This Rumor Come From?
Despite extensive searching through interviews, press coverage, and behind-the-scenes documentation from The Hangover's production, there's no credible evidence that Lindsay Lohan was ever approached for any role in the film.
The rumor appears to have originated on social media and entertainment gossip sites, eventually being repeated so often that people assumed it was true. It follows a familiar template of celebrity "regret" stories that circulate online.
The Hangover's Actual Casting
Director Todd Phillips always envisioned The Hangover as a male-driven comedy. The primary roles were the four guys: Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Doug (Justin Bartha).
The female roles in the film were relatively minor:
- Heather Graham as Jade, the stripper with a heart of gold
- Sasha Barrese as Tracy, Doug's bride-to-be
- Rachael Harris as Melissa, Stu's controlling girlfriend
None of these roles were star vehicles that would typically attract someone of Lohan's profile at the time, and there's no record of any major actress being attached before the final cast was assembled.
Why We Love These Stories
The "celebrity turned down a hit movie" genre is irresistible because it combines schadenfreude with hindsight. We get to feel superior knowing how things turned out while imagining the regret the celebrity must feel.
Some of these stories are true. Will Smith really did pass on The Matrix. Sean Connery turned down Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. But many others are exaggerated, misremembered, or completely invented.
The Lindsay Lohan/Hangover story likely gained traction because of her well-publicized personal struggles during the late 2000s. It fit a narrative people wanted to believe about her career decisions.
Lohan's Actual Career During This Period
In 2009, when The Hangover was released, Lohan was dealing with legal issues and had largely stepped back from major film roles. Her last theatrical release before this period was Herbie: Fully Loaded in 2005, and she wouldn't return to wide theatrical release until Scary Movie 5 in 2013.
It's possible that confusion arose from Lohan being offered some comedy role during this era, which then got conflated with The Hangover's massive success. But there's simply no evidence connecting her to this specific film.
The Takeaway
Before sharing that juicy celebrity tidbit, it's worth asking: where did this actually come from? In the age of viral misinformation, even harmless entertainment gossip can be completely fabricated.
Lindsay Lohan has made plenty of headlines over the years—she doesn't need fake ones added to the mix.