Kal Penn White House Departure: Is Actor Leaving To Shoot A 'Harold And Kumar' Sequel?

The White House declined to confirm a flurry of reports that Kal Penn, the actor turned Obama administration staffer, is planning to leave his job in Washington to return to Hollywood.

"Mr. Modi is honored to serve in this Administration and has no announcements to make about his tenure here at this point," a White House spokesman said on Friday. (Penn goes by his real name, Kalpen Modi, in his role as a government employee).

Several entertainment media sources reported that Penn, who may be best known as Hollywood's "Kumar," was preparing to leave his job as associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement to return to the big screen to film a sequel to the popular "Harold and Kumar" film series.

Penn joined the Obama White House as a liaison to the Asian American and arts communities last July.

According to Entertainment Weekly, New Line Studios is planning a Christmas-themed "Harold and Kumar" movie -- slated to be directed by Todd Strauss Schulson -- that is supposed to begin filming, possibly in 3D, this June and will hit theaters in time for the 2011 holiday season. The movie would reportedly co-star Penn and John Cho, who plays the character, "Harold."

Comments

[renoir]

11:39 AM on 04/06/2010

I'm embarrassed about how much I love Harold and Kumar. A Christmas movie? Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease.

[thehoopoe]

12:09 AM on 04/06/2010

I APPLAUD.

The Harold and Kumar series is a heartbreaking work of staggering genius. Way more important than " community liaison" whatever, anyone can do that.

Only Kal Penn can be Kumar.

[MarieNat]

06:29 PM on 04/05/2010

I'm sure the pay is probably better but to leave a position working for this historic administration to work on a movie that will be forgotten two weeks after release strikes me as perhaps not the smartest thing in the world. I hope he just takes a leave of absence or something.

[Tenjikuronin]

01:35 PM on 04/06/2010

Harold & Kumar III won't be forgotten in two weeks, it will live on forever on DVD.....much like the last two movies.

Better to be on the silver screen than hidden away working for Obama.

[noudidnt]

04:15 PM on 04/05/2010

The world needs Harold and Kumar III.

[RBLRDR]

03:10 PM on 04/05/2010

WOW .... from escaping GITMO to working at the White House... impressive.

[cigi]

02:41 PM on 04/05/2010

I didn't know he was in the WH...learn something everyday.

[JimR]

12:01 PM on 04/05/2010

Well, he can't back to "House." Unless they say his character's suicide was just a bad dream.

[RSKaz]

08:13 AM on 04/05/2010

Now there's a career move.

[BritishColumbian]

05:47 PM on 04/04/2010

Why not wait until NEWS is actually made rather than report on speculation? There is a great deal going on in the world, like in South Africa, that is worthy of reporting and discussing!!

[ThePhilosopher]

12:37 AM on 04/05/2010

As much as I agree with your general sentiment, given how little attention is paid to far more serious issues, the provision of news here on HuffPo isn't really a zero-sum game. Putting this story on the website does not necessarily take away from the provision of more serious news. Indeed, HuffPo could add more stories about more important issues WHILE still having this story, too.

[twhiting9275]

03:04 PM on 04/04/2010

This is hardly "news". I've known the film was going to be done (it's listed @ IMDB as coming out in '11) since before he left House.

Most likely, this will just be a temporary thing, as he left a pretty decent job @ House to go to DC to do this. It's not like he couldn't get work in TV/film again, but I think we'll see him do this as a brief departure then back to DC to work.

[MDCA]

12:47 PM on 04/04/2010

Who cares???? Why is this "NEWS?"

[abbeyroad]

02:00 PM on 04/04/2010

Because the HP feels they have to fill up every inch of this overcrowded, slow-as-quicksand website.

[Pollitikat]

08:50 AM on 04/04/2010

I dint know that he worked for the white house, what a great resume for him. If his passion is acting then he is follow his passion

[twhiting9275]

03:01 PM on 04/04/2010

That's the reason his character (Kutner) was killed off on House last year.

[Yikes11]

07:06 AM on 04/04/2010

Harold/Kumar 2012

[ruffdeezy]

02:55 AM on 04/04/2010

The movie won't be as good since NPH died in the last one.

[VerizonCells]

12:36 PM on 04/04/2010

if you watch the credits at the end of the move you will see he did not die.

[hey0there]

02:38 AM on 04/04/2010

he wont do another sequel
hes already afraid of being typecaste

[Tenjikuronin]

01:36 PM on 04/06/2010

He hasn't been typecast. He's had a lot of diverse roles outside of H&K/Van Wilder.