Gina Carano Wins Starring Role in Major Action Film 'Knockout'

"Movie star" will apparently be the next descriptor for Gina Carano.

The popular athlete who has been a Muay Thai fighter, MMA fighter, American Gladiator and magazine model is reportedly set to star in a spy thriller being helmed by Oscar-award winning director Steven Soderbergh.

The film's title seems apt: Knockout.

Carano, who recently suffered her first MMA loss in first-round TKO at the hands of Cris Cyborg, will play the lead in the action flick, which will begin production in January, according to Variety.com.

Carano is 7-1 in her MMA career. She made her feature film debut in 2009's Blood & Bone, but Knockout would be her first starring role. The film, which will be shot in Ireland, Turkey and the U.S., will reportedly be about a woman who "gets a second chance to use her skills for constructive purposes," Variety wrote.

She'll be in good hands. Soderbergh won a "Best Director" Oscar in 2000 for the crime drama Traffic, and is best known for helming the Ocean's Eleven series.

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Gina Carano Snapshots

Martial artist Gina Carano attends Maxim's 10th Annual Hot 100 Celebration Presented by Dr Pepper Cherry, True Religion Brand Jeans, Stolichnaya Vodka and Corona held at Barker Hangar on May 13, 2009 in Santa Monica, California.

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Gina Carano Photos

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter Gina Carano arrives at Maxim's 2009 Hot 100 Party at Barker Hangar on May 13, 2009 in Santa Monica, California.

Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic

Gina Carano catches all the action at the Strikeforce show on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in San Jose, Calif.

Tom Casino, Strikeforce

MMA fighter Gina Carano and UFC fighter Tyson Griffin attend UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar at the MGM Garden Arena on November 15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images

Gina Carano, right, punches Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

Gina Carano kicks Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano during a segment of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" at CBS Television City on September 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

Francis Specker, Landov

Gina Carano, right, punches Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

Gina Carano, right, kicks Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

AMERICAN GLADIATORS -- Pictured: Gina "Crush" Carano

Paul Drinkwater, NBC

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-06-2009 @ 7:05PM

RJ said...

This is great news for her and really not surprising ever since she was on American Gladiators It's been obvious that she has been more interested in going Hollywood than actually competing in Mixed Martial Arts.
It wouldn't shock me in she never fights again in MMA.

9-06-2009 @ 9:43PM

Pikehand said...

Ohh Canada ohh Canada you are my country Canada

9-07-2009 @ 6:35AM

jbjg24m said...

nice to lok at !

9-07-2009 @ 7:26AM

bzz200 said...

best thighs !!!! mm mmm mmmmmm

9-07-2009 @ 8:46AM

JBaer said...

And so begins another athlete's career in straight-to-video movies. Ms. Carano deserves better.

9-07-2009 @ 9:55AM

celtscat said...

Yep I can see it now.. A promising athlete to star of reject movies. Pretty sad.

9-07-2009 @ 9:56AM

Frank and Angela said...

Will she be naked?

9-07-2009 @ 11:24AM

M13 said...

I hope she doesn't go the route Cung Le has taken. However, the choice is hers...

9-07-2009 @ 11:34AM

Laurel said...

I hope it's a good movie and she does well.

9-07-2009 @ 12:52PM

labbott123 said...

Is there a point in time when we will no longer be bombarded with news about Michael Jackson? The guy was a well-known pedophile, for Heaven's sake!

9-07-2009 @ 1:41PM

Mike said...

She definitely looks like a woman!! Cyborg though??????

9-07-2009 @ 1:44PM

cafanop said...

All I can say is that Gina like to mix it up. Proof of that is her appearance on drunkathlete.com.

9-07-2009 @ 2:01PM

GET TO WORK!!! said...

Gino Carano a star? I've never even heard of her.

9-09-2009 @ 2:34AM

justmac65 said...

Never heard of her?

Well become a fan of MMA. I don't mean UFC, I mean MMA!!

9-07-2009 @ 5:16PM

stonewt said...

"Hollywood" Carano strikes again! "Can crusher" Carano built her career on her 'alleged' good looks (mildly attractive, really) and pummeling of significantly smaller opponents while she exceeded the weight limit.

Gina "Kimbo Slice" Carano was exposed as a fraud by Cyborg. Look for Carano to effectively disappear by the end of 2010. Good riddance to a BS fighter.

9-07-2009 @ 8:04PM

You have to be trolling. There is no way you can be this dumb.

9-09-2009 @ 8:05AM

Eric said...

If she never fought again, it would be the right decision.

People will think this is strange because she only has the one loss, but what's left for her in fighting? Rematch against Cyborg? I don't think she wants it, nor do I think she could win.

She used fighting to gain notoriety, now she should use that to make some money while not getting her face smashed up.

If she really loves fighting and can't stay away from it, then that's one thing. But I just don't see the big picture/future in womens MMA.