Sean Penn drops out of Three Stooges

source: news.bbc.co.uk

Sean Penn has dropped out of The Farrelly Brothers‘ upcoming Three Stooges flick for personal reasons.

The two-time Academy Award winner has decided to take a year off from his film career to focus on family matters.

Penn was set to play Larry Howard alongside Benicio Del Toro and Jim Carrey, who have been lined up to play Moe and Curly.

It is unknown whether or not the producers of the Three Stooges flick will wait a year to keep Penn, or recast the part of Larry. There is the potential threat of Del Toro and Carrey dropping out of the film if there are major scheduling conflicts.

Carrey has already gained 40 pounds for his role. The film is tentatively expected to enter production later this year, with an anticipated 2010 release date.

Penn will next be seen in Terrence Malick‘s The Tree of Life in 2010. Filming completed on that flick earlier this year.

Discuss: I was pretty psyched to see Penn get into comedy (I happen to think he can be a pretty funny dude). But, we must all move on. So, any replacement suggestions?