Peña: CHiPs will be R-rated and action packed

Michael Peña says the new CHiPs movie is more about the plot than comedy.

The 39-year-old actor will be starring alongside Dax Shepard in the film adaptation of the hit TV show, playing California Highway Patrol motorcycle cops Frank ‘Ponch’ Poncherello and Jon Baker respectively.

While the film has already been compared to Lethal Weapon in its style, Michael has revealed in a new interview it will only be inspired by the 1987 picture with regards to the balance between action and one-liners.

“It’s more like a Lethal Weapon where there’s a lot of action and what we wanted to do is if there’s any comedy that we do, it’s not like one-liners here and there, like we’re the guys always being stand-up comedians,” Michael told Collider. “It’s almost like you lose a little bit of the plotline whenever you’re off doing your own comedy thing, so we’re focusing a little more on the plot, if that makes any sense whatsoever.”

Now that the project is officially greenlit, Michael has already thrown himself into training for the film.

However, the thespian admits he is struggling with certain aspects of the process.

“I had to start learning how to ride a motorcycle, rehearsing, and then working out,” he said. “I’ve been throwing up like every day after workouts. I like food, you know' And I also like reading, being on my iPad, no walks in the park; just chilling with my son. We just lounge and this [gestures to stomach] gets bigger.”