Kal Penn shares an update about whether a fourth Harold & Kumar movie is in the works. Penn, who portrays Kumar Patel, has long expressed a desire to make a sequel. Back in 2014, Adult Swim picked up an animated television series based on the franchise, though it never came to pass. In 2016, John Cho, Penn’s co-lead who depicts Harold Lee, revealed that he had pitched an idea to creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. Both actors cited scheduling conflicts and bad timing as the primary reasons for the uncertain reunion of their characters.
During an interview about his latest role in Disney+ series The Santa Clauses, Penn was asked by ComicBook about Harold & Kumar and the possibility of returning to the franchise. He shared that everyone involved — meaning himself, Cho, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg — wanted to do another film. He indicated that nothing was quite solidified. Check out his quote below:
“I hesitate even answering that question because all of us want to do a fourth movie, we just need to figure out the right timing. You’ve got the 20-year anniversary coming up, so maybe we can figure out something by then.”
What Could Harold & Kumar 4 Be About?
Since the release of its first film (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) in 2004, the franchise has been labeled a cult classic. A stand-out in the stoner comedy genre, it was also noted for being ahead of its time for reasons two-fold: the first being that in the early 2000s, having two Asian-American leads was incredibly rare; the second being that Penn and Cho’s characters overturned racial stereotypes. White Castle, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas all feature the two friends on a mission of sorts, with the situation descending quickly into fever-dream chaos.
Story-wise, viewers should probably expect no difference in a sequel. Harold and Kumar’s stoner identities are at the heart of their friendship, as well as at the heart of the story. However, the characters will be older and in different walks of life: the end of the most recent film sees both characters in committed relationships and on the brink of fatherhood. Fans will also have a new and unexpected setting to look forward to, as seems to be promised in every film. Penn’s desire to set the film in space shows that no possibility is too outlandish.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unknowns. Though all parties appear to be game, the same reasons seem to stall them from making the film a reality. Penn and Cho have a number of TV and movie projects underway, while Hurwitz and Schlossberg are busy with the ongoing success of their Cobra Kai series. However, with the recent trend of reboots and long-awaited sequels still remaining strong, fans of the Harold & Kumar franchise have good reason to stay hopeful. As they wait, they’ll surely be on the lookout for any related news, including the potential for another essential and iconic appearance by Neil Patrick Harris.
Source: ComicBook.com