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We know Gina Carano can fight, but can she act?

Well we’re going to find out soon because director Steven Soderbergh — best known for directing Ocean’s Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen, Traffic, Erin Brockovich, and the soon-to-be-released movie The Informant! starring Matt Damon — has cast her in the lead role is his latest movie, Knockout.

Scripted by Lem Dobbs, “Knockout” casts Carano as a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is given a second chance to use her skills for constructive purposes. The film is a closer cousin to “La Femme Nikita” and “Kill Bill” than “Million Dollar Baby,” in that it doesn’t take place in the fight ring. Rather, Soderbergh considers the film as a flat out action film in the James Bond mold, and will shoot in locations around the world that include Ireland, Turkey and the U.S.

Soderbergh will surround Carano will name actors in supporting roles.

It seems like a pretty big leap for Carano. Her only previous film experience consisted of a small role in the awful low-budget flick Blood to Bone, so it’s a little hard to imagine her carrying an entire movie on her back. I doubt Soderbergh would have cast her though if he didn’t believe she could do it, so maybe her acting chops are as good as her eight point attack.

Production is expected to begin in late January. We’ve hardly heard a peep from Gina since her loss to Cris Cyborg last month, so it seems doubtful we’ll see her back in action before filming starts. With this movie and possible projects that may stem from it, as exciting as it is for her, hopefully this doesn’t lead to Gina becoming the next Cung Le.

Image via Showtime Sports