LOS ANGELES - Wilmer Valderrama and the producers of "American Idol" are getting into business together. The actor, who starred in Fox's "That '70s Show" and has branched into production (MTV's "Yo Momma") and movie roles ("Fast Food Nation"), will develop and possibly star in series projects for FremantleMedia North America.
Valderrama, 27, and producing partner Danny Villa will establish offices at Fremantle in Burbank for the actor's WV Enterprises, his publicist said Monday. The "first-look" deal with Fremantle includes both scripted and reality shows.
Valderrama is set to star in a feature film version of the series "CHiPs" as "Ponch" Poncherello, the motorcycle-riding California highway patrolman originally played by Erik Estrada in the 1970s show.
Fremantle is the production arm of media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG's RTL Group.
