Dax Shepard and Michael Peña Debut "CHiPs" Trailer on "Jimmy Kimmel"

[JamesG]

Dax Shepard Making "CHiPS" Movie for Warner Bros.
9/2/14
by Aaron Couch


"Parenthood's" Dax Shepard is getting behind the wheel of CHiPS. The actor will write, star and direct a film version of the NBC TV series which centered on two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Deadline first reported the news.




Shepard will play Jon Baker, the by-the-book officer played by Larry Wilcox on the TV show.

Michael Peña (Gracepoint, End of Watch) will costar as Frank Poncherello, Baker's wild partner, who was played by Erik Estrada.



Shepard's Primate Pictures is producing, along with Andrew Panay.

"CHiPS" TV series creator Rick Rosner will executive produce and Jesse Ehrman and Nik Mavinkurve will oversee for Warner Bros.

The show ran 139 episodes over six seasons from 1977 to 1983.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...s-movie-729677

[Mace Dolex]

Well its about time after so many rumors of that punk Wilmer Valderrama wanting to do a CHiP's movie at least they're moving forward with some bit of news.

Hopefully they follow the spirit of the show and make it like an action comedy, Michael Pena while might not strike to some as handsome as Erik Estrada at least he's a better choice than Wilmer.

[Yesha]

Well, "CHiPs" followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol. I can see a great TV series again

[JamesG]

Dax Shepard: The "CHiPs" Remake is like Bad Boys with Tighter Pants
by Samantha Highfill
Sep 19, 2014


When news broke that Dax Shepard was writing, directing, and starring in a remake of "CHiPs", the popular television series that ran from 1977 to 1983 and followed two California patrol officers, fans immediately wondered what a “more serious” take on the story would look like.

And according to Shepard, it will add the FBI to the mix, but retain a few things from the original (namely, the tight pants).



EW caught up with Shepard to get some details on the upcoming remake.









So "CHiPs" might have been my favorite show growing up.

Really? Did you have a major crush on Poncherello?



Actually, I had a major crush on Jon.

That’s so counterintuitive. Most gals were obsessed with Ponch. Your dad must’ve been a really sweet man.



He was. Well, he is.

Yeah, that explains that. I think the litmus test is, if you’re attracted to Jon, you had a really nice father, and then if you’re attracted to Ponch, your dad was probably not around as much and was maybe a little more you know risque.

But I’m going to play a little bit more dangerous version of Jon. My version of Jon is a little scarier.



So it’s for people whose dad was sort of around?

My dad, who was a car salesman who spent a lot of time at the bar and drove a Corvette.







The only thing I’ve really heard is that it’s a more serious take on the series, but what can you tell me about the angle you’re going for?

Yeah, that’s exactly it. It’s not the spoof version at all, and it’s not the comedy-first version. It’s the action-first version. It’s way more tonally in keeping with Lethal Weapon or Bad Boys.

I’m super, super into motorcycles. It’s something that I take absurdly seriously, so my commitment to it being a very kick-ass motorcycle movie is No. 1.

And then I doubt you saw Hit and Run, but if you saw Hit and Run, my other commitment being to, you know, authentic dialogue that maybe isn’t expositional in nature but more slice-of-life in nature. So it’s not set-up jokes. The comedy I’m trying to mine is the intricacy of male relationships and how awkward those are at the beginning—and then once they take off, how kind of funny and satisfying.







Where are you in the process?

I’ve already written it. I’m really, really happy with it. I was a tiny bit intimidated. It has a legit crime plot to it, and I had never tackled that kind of a plot. I guess Hit and Run was also a crime plot, but not, “Oh, there’s clues and they’re uncovering things and they’re discovering things.”

So the mechanics of that were slightly intimidating to me. I spent more time writing this than anything else I’ve written, but the end result, I was really happy with. I feel like it actually has a really good engine, a really good plot to it.







So does it have one central crime?

There’s a series of crimes happening, and it seems quite evident to the FBI that one or more people in the CHP is complicit in this or involved in it, so the movie starts with Ponch, who’s an FBI agent, getting sent to the CHP undercover.



That’s a twist.

I kind of wanted to acknowledge the funny fact that Poncherello is an Italian name and was originally, in the series, written for an Italian guy, but Erik Estrada came in and crushed an audition and they cast a Mexican lead, which was not happening a ton at that time.

I think it’s really funny and cool, that you have this Mexican guy playing what was conceived of an an Italian guy, so I wanted to acknowledge that in our script — like, why is this guy playing an Italian? So the fact that he’s undercover explains that.







Anything you definitely want to keep from the original?

I will keep the pants tight. I promise to keep the pants tight from your childhood show.



Thank you. I appreciate that. Wait, wait. Are you going to be wearing different color aviators?

Why do you ask that?



That was always crucial to me. Jon had the lighter, yellow aviators and Ponch had the darker, black aviators.

Well you know what’s so bizarre, by pure coincidence, I shot a teaser for the studio of Michael Peña and I, and in the teaser, I’m wearing blue aviators and he’s wearing red aviators.



So they’re different but not the exact same as the original.

Right.



I like it.

And that’s a coincidence, I’m glad you just pointed that out to me. It makes me feel like I really stayed true to something that escaped me.



Now you can tell people that’s a little homage to the original.

Yes, this was a conscious choice. Yeah, but in the teaser we’re in red and blue. Which I just liked because those are police-siren colors.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/09/1...epard-chips-2/

[Bonniegirl]

Very cool! I'm gonna see it! But Michael Pena isn't nearly as HOT as Erik Estrada was! Nobody can play Ponch as good as Erik did!

[Bonniegirl]

Actually Eric Estrada isn't Mexican he is Puerto Rican!

He was born on March 16, 1949 in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York. His full name is Henry Enrique Estrada and he is of Puerto Rican decent!

I think Ponch was supposed to be Mexican though, he was supposed to be from California. I always thought it was funny, he had a very strong NY accent! LOL! Why not just make Ponch a transplant from NY who was Puerto Rican! Oh well, glad he was hired, I love him!!!

[JamesG]

I've always liked Michael Peña.

Very underrated actor.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by JamesG

I've always liked Michael Peña.

Very underrated actor.

OK, Now I know who Michael Pena is ! He played Cesar Chavez in the movie about the grape boycott. I saw that movie!
He was good as Cesar!

[Mace Dolex]

Originally Posted by bonniegirl62

Very cool! I'm gonna see it! But Michael Pena isn't nearly as HOT as Erik Estrada was! Nobody can play Ponch as good as Erik did!

Hollywood can work wonders with makeup and I'm sure if they ask nicely to Pena he can hit the gym a couple of months to lose his gut.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Hollywood can work wonders with makeup and I'm sure if they ask nicely to Pena he can hit the gym a couple of months to lose his gut.

LOL!!! If they ask him nicely!!! That's funny!!!!


But really, almost ANYONE would look a little chubby in the stomach in those tight highway patrol uniforms!!!! Even the original Ponch and Jon!! They were young, really in shape guys and they looked like they were about to pop some buttons on those uniforms!!!! LOL!! I know it was the 70's , and the tight clothing was in style for the guys but still!!!!

I'm like thinking to myself as I watch "Ponch take off that uncomfortable tight uniform" Not for horny reasons but because it looks UNCOMFORTABLE and polyester!!! OK for my horny reasons too, I admit, I'd LOVE him to take off his uniform and get in my bed!!!!

But back to the topic, any actor would have to work on his gut to be able to look good in a Chips uniform!!! I'm just being a brat, I'm so partial to Erik Estrada as Ponch, I'd have stuff to say about any actor up for that roll, nothing personal against Michael Pena!

[Bonniegirl]

When is the Chips movie supposed to come out?? I hope Erik has a cameo!

[Mace Dolex]

Yeah as far as movies slated for 2015 I haven't heard a peep about it.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Yeah as far as movies slated for 2015 I haven't heard a peep about it.

Me either, and you know I have my ears perked up over this! Maybe it won't end up happening, like the other time they were going to do a Chips movie with Wilmer Valderrama playing Ponch and it never came about!

[Flying Dutchman]

I wonder if they will invite Estrada or Wilcox to do a cameo in the movie. I can see maybe Michael Dorn who played Officer Jebediah Turner in Chips, because he has done many movies. They did that to Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul in Starsky n Hutch the movie. I thought it was so cool to see them again.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Flying Dutchman

I wonder if they will invite Estrada or Wilcox to do a cameo in the movie. I can see maybe Michael Dorn who played Officer Jebediah Turner in Chips, because he has done many movies. They did that to Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul in Starsky n Hutch the movie. I thought it was so cool to see them again.

That would be cool! I would LOVE to see Erik and Larry in this movie! I liked the Starsky and Hutch movie with Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller. Cool when David and Michael Paul made an appearance!

LOL@ Snoop Dog as Huggy Bear! He was GOOD!