Actor and director Mel Gibson will appear in the sequel to The Hangover. (Arturo Rodriguez/Associated Press)

Embattled Hollywood star Mel Gibson will appear in the sequel to the blockbuster comedy The Hangover, according to reports.

The Hollywood Reporter says the 54-year-old actor will have a cameo as a tattoo artist that meets the cast from the original 2009 movie (Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha) in Bangkok.

Some entertainment critics suggest that Gibson could be looking to improve his public image by taking on an uncharacteristically comedic role in a hit movie, much as Tom Cruise did in Tropic Thunder or boxer Mike Tyson in the first Hangover film.

Gibson has been embroiled in several off-screen controversies that have damaged his public profile in recent years. In 2006, he famously directed anti-Semitic remarks at a police officer in Malibu while being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

The actor also made headlines earlier this year when audio recordings, supposedly of Gibson violently ranting at his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, were leaked to the public by a celebrity news website.

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