Sean Penn has pulled out of two films, Variety reports today. While he's saying he needs the time to work on his (continually) troubled marriage to Robin Wright, a blind item last week is fueling speculation that it's drug-related.

The New York Post ran a blind item last week detailing an actor on the brink: "Which actor is on hiatus due to a drug relapse? He claimed he needed time off because of the heartbreak of his public split, but he's actually headed to rehab."

A blog called Spielster put two and two together before Variety's announcement, as rumors had been floating around for a few days that the actor's involvement in Cartel and the gloomy-sounding Three Stooges was tenuous at best.

If he his having problems with his wife (and, really, when isn't he?) or doing too many drugs, now is a perfect time to lay low for a while. He's so awash in the Milky glow of the industry's respect that he really doesn't need to do anything right away to capitalize on a moment. No, people will wait around for him, as they have since Fast Times. Plus, the Three Stooges thing will likely be a disaster, so walking away could prove a wise decision.

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