Sean Penn no longer part of The Three Stooges
Sean Penn withdraws from The Three Stooges and thriller Cartel
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Wednesday, 17, Jun 2009 09:29
Oscar winner Sean Penn has withdrawn from the film version of The Three Stooges and thriller Cartel, citing personal reasons.
The actor is set to take up to a year off work to concentrate on his family, Variety reports, leading him to inform Universal, Imagineand MGM Studios that he will be unable to star in their planned productions.
Penn, 48, had committed to the two films having won the best actor Academy award for his role in Milk but both studios will now be forced to recast.
Cartel, an action drama directed by Asper Leith, would have been the first project on Penn's schedule, with the Mystic River actor set to star as a man who journeys to Mexico to protect his son from the cartels who killed his wife.
Universal and Imagine are still intending to commence production this autumn and are said to be putting together a list of actors to replace Penn.
MGM are likely to do the same with The Three Stooges, the Farrelly Brothers' planned take on the iconic comedy trio, which had seen them announce an impressive cast of Penn (as Larry), Jim Carrey (as Curly) and Benicio Del Toro (as Moe) in March.
With the Farrellys due to begin shooting in August in line for a 2010 release date, the studio could now postpone the project until Penn decides to return to work or consider recasting the role.
Actors thought to be in consideration to take Penn's place include British actor Simon Pegg, Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Sideways star Paul Giamatti and The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis.
Penn and his wife of 13 years Robin Wright Penn announced they were to divorce in December 2007 then withdrew the petition in April 2008
The couple then filed for legal separation in April this year, only for Penn to be granted a dismissal of the request towards the end of May.
He told the New York Daily News that his filing for separation in April was "an arrogant mistake".