Ashton Kutcher joins “Two and a Half Men”

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2011 file photo, actor Ashton Kutcher attends a special screening of "No Strings Attached" in New York. Kutcher is giving his Twitter followers a clue that he may be joining "Two and a Half Men" ó or he's punking them. A tweet Wednesday came amid reports that he's nearing a deal to replace the fired Charlie Sheen on TV's top-rated comedy. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File) ORG XMIT: NY115

CBS and Warner Bros. Television have announced today that Ashton Kutcher will join the cast of “Two and a Half Men.”

Kutcher joins Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Holland Taylor, Marin Hinkle and Conchata Ferrell on the series, which will begin production on its ninth season this summer for broadcast in the fall, according to a news release.

“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,” Kutcher said in the news release. “I can’t replace Charlie Sheen but I’m going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people!”

“We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family,” Chuck Lorre, creator and executive producer of “Two and a Half Men, also said in the release.  “Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together.  If I was any happier, it’d be illegal.”