- Kutcher says he 'can't replace' Sheen, but will work hard to entertain viewers
- He is expected to get $1m per episode (but he'll earn less than troubled predecessor)
- Sheen predicts a drop in ratings
- Two And A Half Men co-star Jon Cryer said he was 'jazzed' about the news
Ashton Kutcher has officially landed a role on Two And A Half Men - and Charlie Sheen is not happy.
CBS network today confirmed the actor, 33, who is married to Demi Moore, had signed a deal with producers Warner Bros to star in the hit comedy.
Sheen, 45, quickly made it clear he was not thrilled with being replaced, telling TMZ: 'Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer... Oh wait, so am I!!'
'Enjoy planet Chuck, Ashton,' he added, referring to the show's creator and his nemesis, Chuck Lorre. 'There is no air, laughter, loyalty, or love there.'
New role: Ashton Kutcher, pictured last night at a charity gala with Demi Moore, has signed a deal to star in Two And A Half Men
He also predicted a steep drop in the ratings, adding: 'Enjoy the show America. Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB.'
A more gracious Kutcher gave his predecessor a nod in an official statement today, saying: 'I can't replace Charlie Sheen, but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people!
Bitter: Charlie Sheen isn't thrilled about his new replacement
'I can't wait to get to work with this ridiculously talented 2.5 team and I believe we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers' homes.'
He had earlier hinted at the new role on Twitter, writing: 'What's the square root of 6.25?' The answer is two and a half.
In what could be interpreted as a dig at Sheen, Lorre said the show was 'lucky' to have Kutcher joining them and expressed his relief that it was not being cancelled.
'We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family,' he said.
'Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together. If I was any happier it'd be illegal.'
Jon Cryer who plays Alan Harper on the hit show, also expressed his happiness about the Kutcher joining the cast.
I'm jazzed about the news this morning that Two and a Half Men is coming back! For all the rest of the cast and crew I'm sure they are equally excited,' he said in a statement to People magazine.
'Ashton is an extraordinarily talented guy, and his presence will be an asset to our show.
He also added in a little joke for good measure: 'We are old friends from our male modelling days, and we're both looking forward to being judged for our comedic artistry, as opposed to our exceptional physical beauty.'
Happy camper: Perhaps Jon Cryer knew about the good news before Ashton's role was confirmed today, the actor was beaming as he stepped out with his son Charlie Austin at a Pinkberry in Studio City, yesterday
But he also took time to thank his former co-star, Sheen.
''I want to express my enormous gratitude to Charlie Sheen for eight great seasons,' he said. 'I'm extremely proud of the work we've done together, and I will miss him,' he said.
'But I'm also looking forward to this new beginning.'
The Wall Street Journal reports Kutcher will earn $1 million per episode, however it is unclear if that includes a percentage of the back-end profits from reruns.
The salary is less than Sheen's, who earned $1.2 million per episode.
There was pressure to get a deal with Kutcher done, with CBS presenting its autumn line-up to advertisers in New York next Wednesday.
Out: Sheen, pictured right with co-stars Jon Cryer and Angus T Jones, was fired from the hit show in March
Kutcher gained fame on another sitcom, That 70s Show, then focused on film roles - the romantic comedy No Strings Attached is the most recent - and producing, including the prank show Punk'd.
He also suggested that the older demographic would tune out from the show now a younger actor is on board.
The Wall Street Journal reports he will earn $1 million per episode, however it is unclear if that includes a percentage of the back-end profits from reruns.
Warner and CBS have been shopping for a name actor who could keep the highly-lucrative sitcom afloat without Sheen.
Within recent days, negotiations with Hugh Grant fell apart because of reported creative differences.
There are now hopes that Kutcher, who is married to Demi Moore, can parlay his nearly 6.7 million Twitter followers and even bigger Facebook fan club into continued healthy viewership for Two And A Half Men.
But Kutcher's effort to use social media to boost The Beautiful Life, which he produced for the CW network, proved lacklustre - the 2009 series, a venture between CBS and Warner Bros, was cancelled after just two episodes.
It has been more than two months since Warner fired Sheen in the show's eighth season, a move that followed the hard-living actor's bouts of wild partying, repeated hospital admissions and a bitter media campaign against his studio bosses who shut down production.
Production on the new-look sitcom is due to begin this summer. Kutcher's first episode is expected to be broadcast in the autumn.
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