Hugh Grant instead of Charlie Sheen on 'Two and a Half Men'? Talks have cooled.

Warner Bros. was hoping to woo Hugh Grant to replace Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men," the hit sitcom that the studio produces for CBS.

Grant, who is no stranger to playing a bit of a rogue ("About a Boy") was in serious negotiations to take the part, but now talks have cooled, according to the entertainment industry website Deadline Hollywood, which broke the news.

The clock is ticking for Warner Bros. and CBS to find the right person to replace Sheen. Next Wednesday, CBS announces its fall schedule to advertisers. Although CBS does not have to unveil what is happening with "Two and a Half Men" then, it would clear up a lot of uncertainty about the network's Monday night comedy block, of which "Two and a Half Men" is the anchor.

Although Sheen is the highest-paid TV star with a salary of $1.2 million per episode plus his cut of rerun money, Warner Bros. is not looking to spend that kind of dough on his replacement, a person familiar with the situation said.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Hugh Grant. Credit: Leon Neal / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[zygion]

I think Hugh Grant would be a good replacement.

[Cosmo Kramer]

I'll do it. You just have to pay me $500,000.00 per show, and I'm funny!!!

[Trojohn621]

Hugh Grant should stick to "chick flicks"!

[JohnRJ08]

Anybody but Charlie. If the writing holds up, the show should do as well or better than when the loser was doing it.

[SheenFAN]

just get sheen back on the show, suck it up chuck

#winning.

[Mike]

Let the show die. It had it's day. Let's move on.

[gee dee]

how would they pull THAT off? would he be introduced as the mom's long lost son that no one knew about or something like that?

[lou]

JohnRJ08 why being so bitter, Charlie Sheen did not do anything to you, you don't even know this guy..get over it, it makes you pathetic guy.
Otherwise i love Hugh Grant, he is charming and can be funny but i am not sure..this show was Charlie Sheen..

[Alley CAt]

Odd choice.