Wilmer Valderrama, best known for playing the hapless Fez on ?That 70s Show,? will reportedly star in the movie version of the police TV series “CHiPs.”

The rights to the series have just been acquired by Warner Bros. Pictures, who recently brought TV staples “Starsky & Hutch” and “The Dukes of Hazzard” to theatres.

According to Variety, Valderrama will take on the role of California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer Francis “Ponch” Poncherello, originally portrayed by Erik Estrada.

Poncherello’s sidekick, Jon Baker ? originally played by actor Larry Wilcox ? has yet to be cast.

The action-comedy also has no producer and no director attached. The script will be penned by Paul Kaplan and Mark Torgove, who are writer-executive producers on “George Lopez.”

The original ?CHiPs? series aired between 1977 and 1983, but has enjoyed a second life in syndication and with worldwide audiences.


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