Hugh Grant cancels Two and a Half Men deal

Reports are claiming that Hugh Grant, 50, has pulled out of negotiations to take on
the lead role in US sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men.’

The British actor, who currently lives in London, was rumoured to have been offered
a pay packet of $1 million per episode to replace former star Charlie Sheen. The
troubled actor was fired from the comedy show earlier this year because of erratic
behaviour. Grant has reportedly turned down the job due to ‘creative differences.’

Insiders are claiming that creator and producer Chuck Lorre, who was
branded ‘s**tbrain and ‘Chucky Cheesball’ by Sheen during their public feud, will
only continue the hit show if he can find an actor with whom he can work easily and
comfortably, and is determined to hire someone not currently known for television
work.

According to website Deadline.com:

‘Chuck will only continue if he can find the right actor and get excited about that. It
has to be somebody Chuck can work with.

‘The feeling was to contract with an exciting actor who’d never done TV before.’

A source said: ‘Everybody wants show back and to support Chuck creatively and to
do something the advertising community will feel good about. The only issue was
whether everyone could get the show up and running and right fast enough to make
this fall’s schedule.’

A number of actors have been tipped to join ‘Two and a Half Men’ after Sheen was
fired in March, including Rob Lowe and Woody Harrelson, who are both film actors
who have been in successful US television shows.

Network CBS and Warner Bros will need to resolve the casting soon to ensure that a
new series is ready before the end of 2011.