Kutcher getting ‘huge payday’ to take over for Sheen in ‘Two and a Half Men’

Hugh Grant is out in the talks about who will replace Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men, and Ashton Kutcher is in, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Kutcher inked a deal last night that is thought to be very lucrative, though lower than Sheen’s $2.5m an episode. Kutcher’s name first surfaced in press Thursday night as a possible Sheen replacement. THR also says Lorre has already covered his tracks as far as Sheen’s exit and Kutcher’s entry:

Now sources say Men creator Chuck Lorre has crafted a storyline to introduce Kutcher in a way that satisfies the network and studio. “It’s really funny,” says one source. “People are going to love it.”

Comments on THR indicated mixed viewer feelings about Kutcher’s Two and a Half Men debut, with one user adding:

U CAN’T REPLACE SHEEN!!!!! I won’t watch it, nor will millions of others!!! CBS should’ve fired Lorre instead of Sheen! Oh well, they won’t even let the show go out with a big great bang, they are gonna ruin it now! Too bad CBS, U SUCK!!!!!!!!!!

To which one might say, “Nice try, Charlie Sheen?” Do you think the replacement will work in the context of the show?