This week the beige-clad law enforcers of the California Highway Patrol roar into picture houses around the world with the release of the movie CHiPs. The late ’70s TV series starred Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox as an ostensible odd couple on patrol, facing off against weekly ne’er-do-wells.

James Kleinmann sat down with co-star Michael Pena and Dax Shepard (who wrote and directed the film, spearheading the resurrection in front of, and behind, the camera) to talk about their new film. They play Ponch and Jon Baker, and seem to be having the time of their lives.

Chips Movie PosterWe couldn’t let the moment pass without asking about his future date with Ant-Man and The Wasp. His character, Scott Lang’s cell-mate Luis, was the undoubted highlight of Marvel’s 2015 film. After a nicely timed storm off from Shepard, Pena explained his big ideas for an expanded role in the superhero sequel,

“You talk to Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel, and you give him your ideas. He’s like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s interesting…’ Nothing happens…

“I thought it would be cool if Luis was constantly bugging Scott (Lang, played by Paul Rudd) for a suit the entire time. He wants a mentor too, if somebody actually cared about him. And then maybe at the end, you know how they revealed The Wasp suit? They reveal my suit. Which has no powers…”

The pair were very keen to talk up the process of bringing the 70s TV series to the big screen, as well as looking cool riding a motorbike.

CHiPS is out in the UK and the US on the 24th of March.

Dax Shepard and Michael Pena – CHiPs Interview

CHiPS Movie Synopsis

Jon Baker (Shepard) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Peña) have just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles but for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten up pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage back together. Poncherello is a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job—inside the CHP.

The inexperienced rookie and hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so kickstarting a partnership is easier said than done. But with Baker’s bike skills combined with Ponch’s street savvy it might just work…if they don’t drive each other crazy along the way.