The new season of Two and a Half Men will begin with a funeral for Charlie Sheen's character. After running off to Paris to elope with his "stalkerish" neighbour Rose, Charlie supposedly slips on a subway platform and is crushed by an oncoming train. Rose, delivering a eulogy at his funeral — attended by a parade of Charlie's former girlfriends — will reportedly describe the accident as a "meat explosion."

Ashton Kutcher's character will be played as Walden Schmidt, "a billionaire Internet entrepreneur going through a nasty divorce." It's expected that Kutcher not only purchases the house, but works out an arrangement with the other one-and-a-half residents.

The season will bring a role-reversal for Cryer, whose character is a reserved, neurotic, and, thus, unlucky-in-love brother Alan. When Kutcher's character enters the picture, Alan discovers he's the more romantically experienced roommate for once and assumes the responsibilities of a mentor.

With Ashton Kutcher's character as the new focus of the show, expect Two and a Half Men to start peppering in new characters related to Walden Schmidt's life. First up will be Kutcher's ex-wife, played by Judy Greer. Former Ally McBeal star Courtney Thorne-Smith will also rejoin the series, reprising her role as a romantic interest for Jon Cryer's character — a part she played for 10 episodes last season.

Cast:
Ashton Kutcher as Walden Schmidt
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
Angus T.Jones as Jake Harper
Courtney Thorne-Smith as Lyndsey Makelroy
Judy Greer as Myra