When The Hangover Part II was released back in May, director Todd Phillips told Steve that The Hangover: Part III "would very much a finale and an ending," and that the story wasn't "in the same template you’ve seen these movies."  Putting aside the criticism that they shouldn't have reused the template for Part II in the first place, it's good to know that the finale will try something new.  Bradley Cooper was recently on The Graham Norton Show and confirmed Phillips' previous statements.  He also provided some new details on the upcoming sequel.  Hit the jump for more.the-hangover-part-2-movie-poster-01Regarding The Hangover Part III, Cooper told Norton [via Moviehole]:

"I hope we're going start shooting in September. I know Todd Phillips is working on the script. We adhered to the formula in the second one, [and] the third would close the trilogy. I think it'll take place in L.A. and not adhere to the structure, it might be different."

I can understand Cooper's hesitation to say it will be different.  He hasn't seen the finished script, and since Part II grossed $581 million worldwide, Warner Bros. would probably be fine if Part III were just another remake of the first Hangover.  I'm not sure how crazy they are about Phillips saying he's ending the trilogy, but we'll see how true that statement holds when the box office receipts come in for the upcoming sequel.

As we previously reported, Phillips is co-writing the screenplay with Craig Mazin (who also co-wrote Part II). Mazin has a pretty great idea for an ending:

I think the third movie ends with Doug staring at a row of crosses in a graveyard. It’s everyone – his wife, his family is dead, everybody from the first movie is dead. Somebody shows up and tells him his dog is dead.

In June, Galifianakis said he heard the plot involves Alan escaping from a mental hospital with help from Stu and Phil.  I doubt either of these plot points will come to pass, but I'll stay interested as long as Part III isn't The Hangover But in LA This Time.