Charlie Sheen has reportedly been cast in showrunner Chuck Lorre’s new HBO Max show, reuniting the two more than a decade after Sheen’s bitter departure from “Two and a Half Men.”
Sheen is set to play a recurring role in Lorre’s upcoming comedy “How to Be a Bookie,” which will stream as a part of the revamped Warner Bros. Discovery service Max, Deadline and Variety reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The show, which is co-created with Nick Bakay and stars comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco, was announced in October and will include eight episodes.
Representatives for Warner Bros Discovery and HBO Max declined The Times’ request for comment. Sheen’s representatives also declined to confirm the possible casting.
Sheen starred in the CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” which Lorre co-created with Lee Aronsohn. Lorre and Sheen’s partnership boosted the show to the top of the network’s ratings, and Sheen’s salary to the highest in TV, but the actor’s struggles with substance use eventually hindered its success.
In 2011, Warner Bros. Television, the production company behind the CBS show, halted production to allow Sheen to seek treatment. While on hiatus, the actor publicly criticized and insulted Lorre, including antisemitic comments, in a series of unhinged interviews.
Shortly after, Sheen was fired and “Two and Half Men” continued without him. Ashton Kutcher was cast as his replacement. At the time of his firing, Sheen was the highest-paid actor in television, making $1.2 million per episode.
The “Platoon” and “Three Musketeers” star went on to sue Lorre and Warner Bros. for wrongful termination, seeking $100 million in damages. Sheen also embarked on an improvised national tour he dubbed “My Violent Torpedo of Truth / Defeat Is Not an Option,” where he bragged about his drunken, party-filled lifestyle and occasionally mocked his old employer.
Sheen and Lorre and Warner Bros. settled the lawsuit out of court later that year, with the actor getting $25 million.
Despite the hit to his public image, Sheen managed to land another leading role the following year in the FX series “Anger Management,” but the show was canceled after two seasons amid poor ratings.
He recently starred in the pilot for the TV show “Ramble On” alongside Jamie-Lynn Sigler of “The Sopranos,” Emmanuelle Chriqui of “Superman & Lois,” John C. McGinley of “Scrubs” and his father, Martin Sheen. The show has yet to be picked up for distribution.
Times staff writer Amy Kaufman contributed to this report.
