Considering its modest origins, and the heights to which its stars have risen (John Cho is one of the leads in the rebooted “Star Trek,” Kal Penn worked in the Obama administration), it’s somewhat surprising that a third “Harold & Kumar” film is on the way — not least because we’d entirely forgotten the existence of the second movie.
But clearly, these pictures make enough dough, at least on video, to justify a third instalment, as yet untitled, with a Christmas theme. The film picks up with the characters having grown apart, six years older, but they’re reunited after a mysterious package is delivered to Kumar. Most of the regulars appear to be returning, including Neil Patrick Harris, who was killed off in the last movie, but there’s a few new actors on board as well.
Patton Oswalt had previously been confirmed for the picture, but, according to a press release from Warner Bros, he’s now being joined by Danny Trejo, who will play a menacing Hispanic man of some description, and Fred Melamed, who gave one of our favorite supporting performances last year in The Coen Brothers’ “A Serious Man.” Richard Riehle (“Halloween II”), David Burtka (“How I Met Your Mother”) and newcomer Amir Blumenfeld are also on board.
Also reported by The Hollywood Reporter (and confirmed by the press release) Thomas Lennon (“17 Again”) is on board as well, playing a neighbor of Harold’s. The comedian has also joined the Anna Faris comedy “What’s Your Number?,” playing an ex-boyfriend of Faris. Anything that keeps him from writing another “Night at the Museum” can only be a good thing in our book.