Soderbergh Signs American Gladiator for Film

Published by Jeff Leins on: September 7th, 2009

Former American Gladiator and MMA fighter Gina Carano will star in Steven Soderbergh’s new film, Knockout.  Now the “face of women’s mixed martial arts,” Carano played Crush on NBC’s failed revival of “American Gladiators.”

Described as a “James Bond” style spy thriller, the film centers on a girl from the “wrong side of the tracks” is given a chance to put her punchisizing skills to good use.  Paraphrasing, of course.  Variety described it as closer to the action of Kill Bill or La Femme Nikita than Million Dollar Baby’s ring-side drama.

Carano doesn’t have any acting experience, but that shouldn’t be a problem for Soderbergh who regularly discovers fresh faces like porn star Sasha Grey in The Girlfriend Experience.  The 7 wins-1 loss MMA fighter appeared in a reality show on the sport called “Fight Girls” and a documentary titled “Ring Girls.”  (We get it, they’re girls.)  She also voiced Natasha in the video game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.

Relativity Media is fronting the “reasonable budget” for the “mainstream action film with universal appeal” and Soderbergh, who waived his upfront salary for a take of the earnings.  It’s a certainly a good sign that he’s confident in its success with an unknown in the lead.  Though Soderbergh promises to surround Carano with name actors for marketing appeal.  With three Oscar nominations and one win on his record, I have no doubt Soderbergh knows what he’s doing.

Soderbergh just finished a dark comedy (The Informant!) with another Bond-type hero, Matt Damon.  It’s getting good reviews out of the Venice Film Festival.