NPH, Patton Oswalt Join Cast of New Harold and Kumar Film

Casting News, News

Neil Patrick Harris, currently riding a resurgence of popularity that can arguably be traced back to his appearance in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, has confirmed to Hollywood.com that he will return for A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.

Despite meeting a rather interesting demise at the end of Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, NPH will allegedly be back healthy as ever — hosting a TV Christmas special with a yet-to-be-confirmed celebrity co-host rumored to be Kelly Rippa.

Also joining the cast is comedian Patton Oswalt, announced via Twitter. No word on what role Oswalt will be playing.

Written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossber and directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas will see the pair played by John Cho and Kal Penn now in their 30s, having not been on speaking terms for years.

Harold, now married and drug-free, is a Wall Street executive. Kumar, on the other hand, has lost his medical license and is living like a teenager. The pair are reunited when Kumar must deliver a package intended for Harold — and ends up burning down a one of a kind Christmas tree belonging to Harold’s father-in-law.

This event sparks a chain reaction that sees the pair on a new adventure — one, as an early script review for the film uncovered, involves a scene featuring a claymation giant snowman rampaging through Manhattan.

The film is currently filming for a 2011 holiday release.

The Buzz: While I didn’t necessarily love Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, I was a fan of the original film and, more importantly, the characters. There hasn’t been a really funny R-rated Christmas movie since 2004’s Bad Santa. If anybody can take the spirit of Christmas, run it through the garbage disposal and come up with something funny, it’s the team behind the Harold and Kumar films.

Robert Saucedo is an avid movie watcher with seriously poor sleeping habits. The Mikey from Life cereal of film fans, Robert will watch just about anything — good, bad or ugly. He has written about film for newspapers, radio and online for the last 10 years. This has taken a toll on his sanity — of that you can be sure. Follow him on Twitter at @robsaucedo2500.