Warner Bros

Hugh Grant pulls out of negotiations for lead role in ‘Two and a Half Men’

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant has reportedly pulled out of negotiations to take on the lead role in ‘Two and a Half Men’.

The 50-year-old British star was reportedly offered $1 million an episode to replace troubled actor Charlie Sheen – who was fired from the show earlier this year because of his erratic behaviour – on the sitcom, but turned down the job due to “creative differences.”

According to insiders, creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre – who Charlie branded “s**tbrain and “Chucky Cheesball” during their public feud – will only continue the show if he can find someone to work comfortably with, and is particularly keen to hire an actor not known for television work.

A source told 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.”

Warner Bros. and network CBS are keen to get the matter resolved soon in order to get a new series of the show ready before the end of the year.

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.”

After Charlie was fired from ‘Two and a Half Men’ in March, a number of actors were tipped to take on the lead role in the show, including Rob Lowe, Woody Harrelson, Jeremy Piven and John Stamos.

Beyonce in talks with Clint Eastwood on film remake

Beyonce and Clint Eastwood are in talks to produce a remake of A Star Is Born. Associated Press reports that Warner Bros has confirmed that the two are negotiating to film a version of the oft-remade 1937 film. The film centres around an aspiring Hollywood actress and her relationship with an actor on the wane. It was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason and again in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The producers of the 1976 version, Billy Gerber, Basil Iwanyk and Jon Peters, are slated to produce Clint Eastwood’s new version. Beyonce has long been attached as the lead but there is no word so far on the male co-star. A Warner Bros spokeswoman said that deals have not been finalised but that negotiations are taking place. In a cute little coincidence, Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z had a Kanye West-produced song called ‘A Star Is Born’ on his 2009 album The Blueprint 3.

“The Hobbit” Production Stays In New Zealand

"The Hobbit" Production Stays In New Zealand

“The Hobbit” Production Stays In New Zealand. “The Hobbit” stays in New Zealand. Prime Minister John Key has announced that the negotiation with Warner Bros executives has been successful. The film producers originally threatened to take the filming of the $500 million film project outside the country after acting unions complained of unfair practices. Earlier this week, thousands of New Zealanders protested outside the streets to convince the producers not to take the Peter Jackson flick outside. Key has first met with the Warner Bros. executives, but the meeting ended with no resolution as to the film’s production location. After two days of talk, the filmmakers have now secured an agreement to have the “Lord of the Rings” prequel shot in the country in exchange for additional tax rebates. According to Deadline Hollywood, Warner Bros was granted up to an extra $7.5 million tax rebate for movie, subject to the success of the films. The NZ government will also offset $10 million of Warner Bros’ marketing costs, and it will host one of the world premieres of the “Hobbit” movies. The government and the film company also agreed to work together in a “long-term strategic partnership” to promote the country as both a film production and tourism destination. NZ will be introducing a legislation to clarify the distinction between independent contractors and employees as it relates to the film industry only. The two-part sequel is set to begin production in February.