Charlie Sheen signed to new TV sitcom

Charlie Sheen, who was fired from Two and a Half Men in March, aims to launch another sitcom this time, on his own terms.

The tempestuous star is planning to return to series television in theshow titled Anger Management, based on the 2003 film of the same name.

With no network currently in place, the new sitcom will be produced by Lionsgate Television and shopped to prospective broadcast and cable networks by Lionsgate subsidiary Debmar-Mercury, the company announced Monday.

The 45-year-old actor will have a "significant ownership stake" in the series, Lionsgate said. He will also gain "a certain amount of creative control,"Sheen noted.

"I chose Anger Management because, while it might be a big stretch for me to play a guy with serious anger management issues, I think it is a great concept," Sheen said.

Analyst Bill Carroll of Katz Media speculated that the series would start on cable for initial exposure and then move to cable and broadcast syndication. That's the model used by Debmar-Mercury on the Ice Cube comedy series Are We There Yet? along with Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Meet the Browns, all of which air on TBS.

Despite Sheen'sstormy final chapter with CBS, which fired him fromTwo and Half Men, cable and broadcast outlets will have to give his new project "serious consideration" given his past success, Carroll said.

Sheen threatened and maligned his bosses publicly over the clash at CBS and they in turn blasted him for his erratic behaviour as a drug-abusing, reckless playboy.

After he was fired,Sheen intensified his rants online, in various media interviews and during a liveconcert tour.

Presumably, Sheen willaim to havea more cordial relationship with his new producer, Joe Roth, with whom he has worked in five features, including Major League, Young Guns and Three Musketeers.

No additional cast members or production start date have been announced by Lionsgate for Anger Management.

In May, Ashton Kutcher wasannounced to replace Sheen in Men, TV's most-watched sitcom, which returns this fall for its ninth season with the remaining cast intact.