Charlie Sheen sues Warner Bros for $136m

Charlie Sheen is suing Warner Bros and the executive producer of Two and a Half Men for US$100 million (NZ$136.24 million).

The lawsuit filed today in a Santa Monica court alleges production was halted on the CBS sitcom to punish Sheen.

Warner Bros Television had put the show on hiatus to allow Sheen time to seek therapy, then halted production for the season after Sheen launched tirades at executive producer Chuck Lorre. Sheen was fired from Two and a Half Men this week, leaving the top-rated sitcom's future in doubt.

Sheen's lawsuit alleges that Warner Bros bowed to Lorre's desire to punish Sheen, and that the producer and Warners conspired to blame the actor for causing production to stop.

The suit also was filed on behalf of the sitcom's crew, which was put out of work.

Warner Bros declined to comment on the suit.

Sheen endorses replacements

Meanwhile, Sheen has given his blessing to the two actors tipped to replace him on the show.

The 45-year-old star says he would be happy if Glee star John Stamos replaced him, even though he recently scoffed at the idea.

Rob Lowe is also in the running to take Charlie's spot, but who ever lands the job the eccentric actor believes bosses will have to change his character's name from Charlie.

During an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, he said: "I think they're both fabulous and my apologies to John. I was rude to him earlier, John Stamos. That was unnecessary. And Rob's an old friend, a brilliant actor, a beautiful man. But I don't know if they could call the guy Charlie anymore."

Charlie - who in the past several months has received rehab treatment for alcohol and cocaine use and partied with dozens of porn stars - recently branded his co-star Jon Cryer a "traitor and a troll", after mistakenly believing he'd issued a statement against him.

He fumed: "Like I said, you're with me, or you're with the trolls.

"Jon has not called me. He's a turncoat, a traitor, a troll. Clearly he's a troll. He issued a statement. Is it gonna take me calling him a 'traitor, juvenile and scared' for him to get it?

"What's there to say? I'll tell him, 'You're a little late. Goodbye, troll.' When I'm starring in multimillion-dollar films and he's begging me for a supporting role I'll say, 'You left me out in the cold with all of your guilt and stupidity.' "

- BANG! Showbiz, AAP