Sean Penn takes a break, drops out of two films

Often, quitting a job "to spend time with the family" is merely a convenient excuse. Sean Penn, whose personal life has been turbulent even by Hollywood standards, gets a pass.

Penn's on-again, off-again relationship with wife Robin Wright Penn has even overshadowed his Oscar win for "Milk." Perhaps with that in mind, the couple's latest reconciliation has prompted Penn to say he's taking a year off from acting to, yes, spend time with his family.

The trades are saying that Penn has dropped out of two films, "Cartel" and "The Three Stooges," though HitFix claims "Three Stooges" will move forward with Penn.

Jim Carrey and Benicio del Toro are still attached to star in "Stooges" as Curly and Moe, respectively.

There's no word on who will replace Penn on "Cartel," though Variety reports the studio plans to stick with its scheduled fall start to filming.

Related:

Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn on again ... maybe
Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro eye-poke 'Three Stooges'
'Three Stooges' casting call