Ashton Kutcher will join Two and a Half Men as a new character, multiple reports claim.
The Wall Street Journal reported the move on Friday, citing people briefed on the deal.
So far CBS, Warner Bros. and Kutcher’s reps at CAA have not commented but sources to The Hollywood Reporter, TV Line and Deadline have resulted in all three confirming the move: “We’ve just received word that negotiations have concluded, marking That ’70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher’s return to television after a brief movie career. He is replacing Charlie Sheen in Two And A Half Men“
TMZ says Kutcher will get more than half of Sheen’s salary, over $625,000 per episode, but less than $900,000.
Sheen’s “winning” base pay on the show was $1.25 million an episode. There are reports Charlie received upwards of $2 million an episode, but that includes his profits of syndication.
It’s unclear whether Kutcher’s figure includes any share in the back-end profits from reruns of the series.
TMZ also reports Les Moonves from CBS has already signed off on the deal and will announce the show is coming back for Season 9, with Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones.
For his part Kutcher has remained coy on Twitter, asking fans, “What’s the square root of 6.25?”
The answer: 2 1/2.
Source: Hollywood Reporter, TV Line, Deadline, TMZ
I don’t watch or like 2.5 Men but I will comment anyway.
That 70′s Show ended in 2006 I believe, apart from some romantic comedies what else has Ashton done? He is a fairly one note actor so it will be very interesting to see what becomes of this.
The question mark is will it last long term.Nine will need something to fill in at 7pm when the Block Ends and nobody in their right mind wants another News/Chat Show at that time of night.If this wins back the people who switched over to 7pm Project and Home and Away due to the constant repeats of older 2.5 men episodes good on them.
In the long term though something has to be done to better compete against 7 and 10′s fresh offerings Reality TV and American Sitcoms won’t last forever.Ten has been down that road with Seinfeld/Big Brother/Everybody Loves Raymond/Friends/Will and Grace amongst many other things over the years till 7pm came along.
@ Moanique Rothschild i love comedy. i don’t find him funny. just a try hard wannbe comedian
AK wanted in after he found out that the French title was ‘Deux Hommes et Demi’
Having a new person run the bar is one thing, I just don’t see where the story is going from what they left. But I guess we’ll get more details as they go back into production in June/July. I don’t mind if it works I just don’t see it working in the long term.
@ Mr chandler, Ashton is very funny, he’s certainly given me lots of laughs. What does it take to tickle your funny bone ?
Southpaw – don’t forget Cheers. Kirstie Alley replaced Shelley Long and it ran for a further 6 seasons.
He’s alright and a more than worthy replacement for Sheen.I hope that Nine has the decency to put this back as New episodes with Mr Kutcher as a 7pm offering.The Block can only last so long and do we really need Karl Stefanovic bringing us News/Chat Shows with Leila.
Finally, I will have a reason to watch this show !!
@ Mr. chandler
The show is not funny at all some they make a good couple.
Can’t wait for the divorce.
Wonder how quick the ratings with take to tumble. I’m sure it will get great numbers to start with and probably win the time slot (in the US) but not sure how long it will last?
i for one am glad. loved that 70s show so looking forward to seeing him back in top form. now just wondering how they’ll explain charlie not being there. my idea: the plane crashed (that way if charlie ever does get better and they decide to let him come back, he can be rescued from a desert island). It’s too bad though, my favourite scenes were of charlie and his mother… now with only alan, what’s going to happen with that chemistry?
The slow painful death of Two and a Half Men.
Why don’t they let it go with “some” dignity.
Brothers and Sisters is officially axed. Just thought you should know.
Was just trying to think where else this has been done where a major character has been replaced and my mind could only go to Spin City, then I thought, how apt, as it was Charlie who replace Michael J Fox.
he isn’t funny