Kal Penn: So Long, Obama...Hello, Kumar!

Actor leaves job at the White House to star in third installment of Harold and Kumar series

By Brandi Fowler Apr 04, 2010 9:25 PMTags
Kal PennAP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Kal Penn is ditching the White House for, um, greener pastures.

Just nine months after leaving House to work for President Barack Obama's administration, Penn is heading back to Tinseltown to reprise his role as marijuana maven Kumar in the third installment of the Harold & Kumar series, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The 32-year-old actor—who's been using his real name, Kalpen Modi—has been working in the White House as an associate director of public engagement since last July, a job he nabbed after previously campaigning for Obama.

The upcoming movie will reportedly have a Christmas theme and might be shot in 3-D. No word on when Penn will officially depart D.C., but shooting is slated to begin in June for a holiday 2011 release.

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Penn's D.C. career may have gone to pot, but check out these other stars getting political.