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

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."

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