In the continuing tradition of turning classic or beloved TV series into modern day films (or vice versa), later this spring Warner Bros. will release CHIPS, an R-rated taken on the 70s television series of the same name following the adventures of a group of California Highway Patrol officers. The film is written, directed and starred by Parenthood’s Dax Shepard, in addition to featuring a cast that includes Michael Peña, Vincent D'Onofrio and Kristen Bell.
During a set visit, we caught up with the cast and crew to find out just what audiences can expect from the new film when it hits theaters this month:
- Director Dax Shepard says the inspiration for CHIPS came out of a chance discovery one night after finding an image of the original series’ ‘Ponch’ and Jon and believing there to be a “bad ass” version of the show waiting to be made. Something more in the “Bad Boys, Lethal Weapon, Beverly Hills Cop” style.
- The movie is described as "action first and comedy second," according to Shepard. It isn’t like the 21 Jump Street reboot according to Dax. “It takes itself seriously.”
- Brands such as Harley Davidson and Ducati were “super supportive” of the film according to Shepard, who was pleased with the way the bikes are portrayed in the film.
- The budget was $25 million. Bigger budget versions were considered with a PG-13 rating, but Shepard believed he could deliver a “home run” at a lower budget with an R rating.
- During the writing process, the film went through 7 drafts before making it to production. Most of the re-writes were done for budgetary reasons.
- The movie is very violent and contains “tons of nudity.” “We are either shooting explosions, nudity or jokes,” said Shepard.
- Shepard describes the movie as a love story between Jon and Ponch.
- According to producer Andrew Panay, the movie was always planned as a modern day adaptation, and that it would not be set in the 70s world of the series.
- Peña says Shepard would add lines to the script from ones that were improvised between the cast during rehearsals.
- Vincent D'Onofrio says of his character: “Ray is on a mission. He wants to protect his son from his son’s self and wants to make a bunch of money and get out of dodge.” He also revealed, “I’m running around and shooting guns and other crazy shit.”
- Of how he expects audiences to react to the film, D'Onofrio stated, “I think for people that are the right age to have seen [the show] when they were kids, they’re gonna find it really cool to have this Dax Shepard version of it out there. And, I think people that have never seen the show will look at it as a stand-alone action movie about California Highway Patrol, which is pretty cool.
- Kristin Bell plays Jon’s wife, who is a swim instructor and, as Bell joked, “sassy piece of arm candy.”
- Said Kristen Bell of her husband’s directing style between their first film together, Hit & Run, and now, “Other than learning practicalities, his directing perspective has been the same for all the years I’ve known him.”
CHIPS hits theaters March 24th