Kevin James fights for his new role.

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: An all-star cast comes together for the new comedy "Here Comes The Boom."

Salma Hayek, Kevin James, and Henry Winkler walked the red carpet in New York on Tuesday (October 09) to celebrate the world premiere of the film.

In the action comedy James plays a high school teacher who starts to moonlight as a mixed martial arts fighter to raise money for the school's music program. At the same time he is attempting to attract the attention of the school nurse, played by Hayek. While it seemed her character was playing hard to get, Hayek revealed she just wasn't interested in James.

James had to train extensively for the physically demanding role for over a year.

"It was pretty rough, I've got to be honest. It was fourteen months of just changing my diet, drinking greens, training two to three times a day, fighting - like a fighter, with all these UFC guys. But at the end of the day it was worth it, I felt like we got what we wanted, which was a real version of it," said James.

The Hollywood actors teamed up with mixed martial arts professionals Bas Rutten and Mark Dellagrotte to help authenticate the movie. Before filming, Hayek admitted that her knowledge on the sport was limited.

"I vaguely remember flipping through the channels and seeing some guys in their swimming suits inside like a chicken cage, rolling around on the floor or something. I didn't really quite understand what it was about. And then when I saw those guys I was so, it was scary, and then when you get to meet them they are like so sweet," she said.

Veteran actor Henry Winkler, who plays a music teacher in the movie, said he didn't think twice about taking the role after receiving a random phone call from James, who co-wrote the script and produced with Adam Sandler.

Filipino singing sensation Charice, who plays a high school student in the movie and shows off her vocla chops, debuted a new hair style and color on the carpet which she called androgynous.

"Here Comes The Boom" opens in U.S. theaters on October 9.