Hugh Grant Nearly Changed Charlie Sheen on ‘Two and a Half Men’ for $750,000 Per Episode, However Backed Out
Hugh Grant was almost the brand new star of Two and a Half Men!
The 66-year-old actor was provided an enormous payday to hitch the CBS sitcom following Charlie Sheen‘s departure in 2011, however he finally turned down the chance.
Series co-creator Chuck Lorre is opening up about what occurred in a brand new interview with E! News, revealing that Hugh got here near signing a contract.
In reality, the present’s writers had already began creating a personality particularly for him.
Why Did Hugh Grant Turn Down Two and a Half Men?
According to Chuck, he and fellow co-creator Lee Aronsohn met with Hugh a number of instances as they tried to determine the way to proceed the present with out Charlie.
The writers even put collectively scenes for a brand new character designed round Hugh‘s character and comedic model, “very very similar to a Hugh Grant kind of character.”
In his new memoir, Sitcom, Chuck reveals that CBS and Warner Bros. provided Hugh $750,000 per episode and a four-day workweek.
The actor was within the alternative, however had issues about performing in entrance of a reside studio viewers.
Chuck says he provided to eradicate the viewers and use recorded laughter as a substitute.
“He confided that he was frightened of working in entrance of an viewers. No downside. I assured him I may eliminate the viewers. (That means canned laughs…clearly I’ve no ethical compass),” Chuck wrote within the e-book, as shared in an excerpt printed in Vanity Fair.
Despite these lodging, Hugh finally determined towards taking the function.
“When it got here time to signal a contract and proceed, he bailed,” Chuck advised E! News. “I’ve by no means spoken with him since that point. Just some agent or supervisor referred to as and stated, ‘Mr. Grant doesn’t need to do that.’”
In his memoir, Chuck additionally remembers being advised that Hugh was about to signal the contract earlier than unexpectedly leaving the room and turning into unreachable.
How Did Ashton Kutcher End Up Replacing Charlie Sheen?
After Hugh turned down the supply, Chuck thought the sitcom could be completed.
However, then-CBS chairman Les Moonves advised assembly with Ashton Kutcher.
Chuck initially had issues about Ashton‘s age and whether or not he would match the function that they had envisioned alongside Jon Cryer.
“I stated, ‘I feel he’s too younger to play the second lead, or actually the primary lead reverse Jon Cryer.’ And [Moonves] went, ‘Meet with him.’ And this was not a person I like to select fights with,” Chuck defined to E! News.
He agreed to the assembly, and Ashton finally received him over.
The actor joined Two and a Half Men in its ninth season as Walden Schmidt, a rich expertise innovator who grew to become the present’s new lead.
The sitcom continued for 4 extra seasons earlier than ending in 2015.
Chuck stated working with Ashton allowed the manufacturing to maneuver ahead with out the turmoil that had surrounded Charlie‘s last season.
Chuck‘s memoir, Sitcom: A Memoir by Chuck Lorre, shall be launched on Tuesday (October 13).
We just lately reported on Chuck‘s claims about Melanie Lynskey‘s experience filming Charlie‘s final Two and a Half Men scene.
Posted To:Ashton Kutcher Charlie Sheen Chuck Lorre Hugh Grant Jon Cryer Television Two and a Half Men
