TV Watch Update

Ashton Kutcher Replacing Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men, Says Report

By Mike Fleeman and Cynthia Wang

UPDATED 05/13/2011 at 06:30 AM EDT • Originally published 05/12/2011 at 08:55 PM EDT

Either Two and a Half Men has a new star or we're getting punk'd.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Ashton Kutcher is taking over for Charlie Sheen, who was famously fired during a battle with the show's producer over Sheen's behavior on and off the set.

The finishing touches are being put on what is described as a "huge payday" for the return to scripted television for Kutcher, 33, the former That '70s Show star who has been focusing since on feature films and TV producing, according to the report.

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Kutcher's name surfaced as the new choice for the No. 1-rated sitcom after a deal to cast Hugh Grant fell through.

Kutcher himself possibly delivered a clue to his Twitter followers Thursday about his casting: "What's the square root of 6.25?" the actor asked in a Tweet.

The answer is 2½.

CBS declined to comment. "There's nothing new to report," a rep says.