Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. is adapting "CHiPs" for the big screen and has hired Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) to reprise the role of "Ponch," a part immortalized by Erik Estrada. Variety says TV showrunners Paul Kaplan and Mark Torgove will write the screenplay.

"CHiPs", created by Rick Rosner and running from 1977 to 1983, followed the pursuits of California Highway Patrol officers Francis Llewellyn Poncherello and Jon Baker, played by Larry Wilcox, from 1977-1982.

The feature version, however, will be much more lighthearted, an action comedy like Warner Bros.' Starsky & Hutch adaptation.

Warners still has to cast the role of Baker, as well as bring on a director.

Warner Bros. is owned by Time-Warner, which also owns the TBS and TNT cable networks that have aired "CHiPs" in the United States.