Gina Carano To Star In Knockout, Soderbergh’s Spy Adventure
The mixed martial arts fighterGina Caranois to make her big screen starring debut inSteven Soderbergh’sKnockout, a spy drama he’s comparing toJames Bondbut also sounds to me a little like Luc Besson’sNikita. Described by producer Ryan Kavanaugh as “mainstream action film with universal appeal for a reasonable budget” this picture sounds like heaven on a slice of warm toast.
The screenplay forKnockouthas been written byLem Dobbs, who had a hand in writingDark Cityand was previously responsible for scripting Soderbergh’sThe LimeyandKafka, as well asEdward Ford, reputedly one of the great unproduced screenplays of all time. The boy can write.According toVariety, Soderbergh will be filming in the New Year, with locations in the US, Ireland and Turkey – at least. This sounds like it could be a proper, square-on-the-nose spy caper. Here’s hoping he gets at least one wink toFathomin there. Gotta love those Leslie Martinson/Lorenzo Semple Jr. team ups.Gina Carano has no actual acting experience (this is never any trouble for Soderbergh: seeBubble, perhaps evenThe Girlfriend Experienceor, if you’re feeling cheeky,Erin Brockovichtoo) but she was in the documentary filmRing Girls, about a group of female martial artists from the US competing in Thailand, and appeared as Crush onAmerican Gladiators.To ballast the film, the supporting roles are apparently set to be filled with ‘name actors’. I’d imagine we’ll also be seeing a few more martial arts capable players because Carano is going to need somebody to beat up on.All theVarietyreport tells us about the plot as that the lead character is “a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is given a second chance to use her skills for constructive purposes.” That’s where theNikitaelement comes in nice and clear.
I’ve definitely read a quote or two from Matt Damon before in which he claimed that Soderbergh once turned down a Bond movie because he wasn’t given creative control (read: sufficient creative control). Looks like he’s now getting a crack at remixing the formula anyway and the Brocolli’s loss is our gain.
