(With her continued film success, we may never get to see Gina weigh in for a fight again. Alas…)

Former MMA champ Gina Carano has been tied to yet another Hollywood major motion picture, according to Variety:

As ‘Haywire’ star Gina Carano continues to establish herself as an action heroine with an upcoming turn in ‘The Fast and the Furious 6,’ the former MMA fighter has become attached to topline an all-female riff on ‘The Expendables.’

And you thought you were turned on by watching the original Expendables flicks, nation. We can get behind this project for sure.

We don’t know much else about the film yet but Adi Shankar, who produced The Grey, Dredd 3D and Brad Pitt’s new mobster movie, Killing Them Softly, is going to be producing it.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to make a movie that is supposed to be the female version of ‘The Expendables’ without Gina Carano in it,” Shankar was reported as saying. “It would be like making Twix without caramel or Jamba Juice without jamba.”

Yeah, those are two really weird examples to use as analogies but we’re excited to see Carano in anything that involves her kicking ass in very little or at least tight clothing.

(Josh Koscheck owns a plane? A fucking plane?? [*cracks another bottle of whiskey*] / Video courtesy of YouTube/FuelTV)

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- Former NFL Linebacker Junior Seau Found Dead, Suicide Suspected (Deadspin)

- 25 Photos Of Girls Being Jealous Of Other Girls (WorldWideInterweb)

- Mastering the Top 10 Athletic Movements (MensFitness)

- 5 Energy Intensive Ways to Be Lazy (DoubleViking)

- Grandmas Watch Kim Kardashian’s Sex Tape. “Two hands with space in the middle.” (Filmdrunk)

- How to Start a Third Political Party (HolyTaco)

(Just marvel at it.) 

Gentlemen, rejoice. It’s been a while since we’ve reported on the lovely Ms. Gina Carano, mainly due to the fact that she’s never coming back to us, and we’re incredibly bitter about it. But be that as it may, we wish Gina the best of luck on her newly chosen path, and despite the fact that next to none of you were devoted enough fans to catch her big screen debut last January, it appears that “Conviction” already has another role in a major film lined up. As we have come to understand, anytime Gina is placed in front of a camera is reason enough to celebrate, and her next project is sure to drag mindless, movie-going audiences in by the droves.

Check out the full scoop after the jump, along with a completely unrelated video that will surely brighten your afternoon. 

(Yeah MMA made her a household name, but Hollywood magic made her a size 4.)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, female fighter and thespian Gina Carano has signed on for her second leading film role for the upcoming John Stockwell-directed thriller, “In the Blood,” which will likely mean that a return to MMA is not in the cards for the 29-year-old Strikeforce and EliteXC veteran.

“In The Blood” will begin production in Puerto Rico in the spring. The film is scripted by Dumb and Dumber’s Bennett Yellin and James Robert Johnston. Actor-turned-director Stockwell is best known for his work on Cheaters, Crazy/Beautiful, Blue Crush, Into the Blue, Turistas, and Heart.

(Props: TMZ via MMAMania)

Of course, we already knew that. But when a director can’t even be bothered to come up with some spin about “managing expectations” and “making it up in the international market,” you know a film is pretty much fucked. As the jerkoff TMZ cameraman puts it, “all of ‘em can’t be great successes.” Very comforting. Does this mean Gina Carano is going back into hiding for another two years?

(Kung Fu Panda, seen here at the Haywire premier. Just kidding Gina, you know we love you. Seriously, we fucking love you.) 

You see, Potato Nation? This is why we can’t have nice things. Continuing the decades-old trend of movie going audiences and critics having the exact opposite opinion of what correlates a decent film, the Gina Carano starring, Steven Soderbergh directed action thriller Haywire opened with a measly 9 million dollars. This, in a weekend that saw Underworld: Rise and Fall of Vamipirous Werewolves 3:The Awakening’s Resolution take in over 25 million and Marky Mark Action Movie #346 take in over 12 million.

Now, it is a well known fact that most movie studios save their biggest cinematic turds for January (this is the month that brought us Season of the Witch, people), but this has to be a disheartening, if not foreboding sign to Gina Carano 2.0, or whatever we refer to her as now that she isn’t actually fighting MMA anymore. Is it too early to write her off? Of course; that moment will come after one of us manages to get off our lazy asses and check out the movie. Shit, I still haven’t seen Warrior, and I watch a disturbing amount of movies.

As you’ve already heard, the critics thus far have praised Haywire for its stripped down feel and intense pace, scoring it an 82% on the Tomatometer. Audiences, on the other hand, have unanimously trounced Haywire, giving it a D+ on Cinemascore. These are the same audiences, mind you, that gave Transformers: Baygasm an A.

[*Pours first glass of scotch for the day.*] 

(Photo via Zimbio. And yes, this is another rip-off of a much-better article. Deal with it.)

By Ben Goldstein

Tomorrow marks the long-delayed theatrical release of Haywire, a movie we’ve been huffing and puffing about since 2009. Obviously, the only reason we care about this film is because of its lead actress, Gina Carano. If you’re a regular reader of CagePotato.com — or any MMA site for that matter — you’re already fully aware of who Gina Carano is. But maybe you’re here by accident, or because you found one of our articles while looking for information on the movie. (And if that’s the case, we welcome you. Some of our most loyal readers came to us through random late-night searches for “How do I get traps like Tom Hardy in Warrior?“)

At any rate, you may be wondering, “Who is this mysterious brunette with the gravelly voice? And why haven’t I heard of her before?” Great questions, my new friend. Let’s run it down…

Who is Gina Carano?
Gina Carano is a Muay Thai kickboxer turned MMA fighter turned actress. She also did a stint as an American Gladiator in 2008, where she was feared for her brutality towards old people. And now she’s starring in an action flick called Haywire, in which she plays Mallory Kane, a super-spy betrayed by her own team. The movie hits theaters on Friday.

Has she been in other movies before this one?
Technically, yes. In 2009, she appeared in a low-budget street-fighting movie called Blood and Bone, along with Michael Jai White, Kimbo Slice, and Bob Sapp. Other than that, Gina’s entertainment resume is limited to video games and reality shows.

So how did an athlete with virtually zero movie experience get cast in the lead role of a prominent action movie?

(“I’d like you to go in there and switch outfits with Ewan. And that’s not a suggestion if you ever want to work in Hollywood again.”)

We had some somewhat hilarious (and many, many more not so hilarious) entries in last week’s Haywire caption contest, but unfortunately for everyone else who wanted a shirt with a picture of Gina Carano choking out Michael Fassbender on it, there can only be one winner.

First, let’s take a look at our runners up, who win nothing but the satisfaction of knowing they made someone nearly laugh kinda smile with something they posted on the Internet.

Here are some of our *other* favorites in no particular order:

Kid Clam Curtains:
Steven: “…so you combine the two words and you get the term ‘gunt’.”
.
Gina: “Haha NOW it makes sense.”
.
Ewan: “Wait, I still don’t get it.”

Tyr:
Ewan McGregor: “Ooohhh you beat up people for a living, i thought you said beat off…. Well this is awkward.”

NomadRip:
Soderbergh: “Seriously. That guy that just left. Paxton or Pullman? I have no idea.”

scottdy:
“You realize I could kill you and the chick with the scarf in the blink of any eye?”

shatterproof:
Gina Carano and Ewan McGregor meet a young jewish boy riddled with cancer. Another wish fulfilled.

Check out the winner after the jump.

(“Avehay ouyay eensay atwhay wanehay is earingway?” “I owknay. I inkthay atthay is ymay arfscay.” “Guys, I know pig latin. And Gina, you can have your scarf back after the premiere.”)

The fine folks at Relativity Media have generously offered us a Haywire prize-pack to give away to one lucky reader who comes up with the best caption for the photo above.

The rules are simple: post your best (or worst) subtitle for the candid shot of Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor and Steven Soderbergh  above from last week’s premiere for the film in the comment section by 6:00 pm ET today for your chance to take home some swag from the movie including a Haywire t-shirt, bracelet and mini-poster. One entry per reader. The winner will be announced Monday.

(I’m only posting this photo because Bill Paxton is one of the greatest American character actors of the last 30 years. That’s Bill Paxton, right? Or is it Bill Pullman. I can never keep those two straight. Anyway, daaaaaamn.)

While reporting on the New York premiere of Haywire for Fightlinker, author Matthew Polly landed a one-on-one interview with star Gina Carano, in which he got Gina to confirm what we all suspected — that you’re not hearing her actual voice in the film:

POLLY: [W]hen I was listening to the movie your voice sounded a little different to me. I know this has been brought up in other media outlets but I didn’t know if they tweaked the sound or that’s just how it came out in the movie.

GINA: Yeah absolutely and I’m surprised that hasn’t come up sooner. Stephen Soderberg wanted Mallory Kane [the character she plays in the movie] to be a completely different entity than Gina Carano. So he definitely went in and I went in to AVR and he did some tweaking. We all knew that that was going to come up because people know me so well in the MMA world. But he is quite a genius in what he has created and it still was an honor to be a part of it.

(Alistair Overeem vs. Junior Dos Santos fan-made trailer via TheAzyunyh4)

Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere…

- Anthony Johnson Finds New Life at New Weight, Thanks in Part to ‘Blackzilians’ (MMA Fighting)

- Strikeforce Champ Luke Rockhold Suffers Broken Hand in Win Over Keith Jardine (MMA Mania)

- 50 Random MMA Facts You Never Knew (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

- Ronda Rousey on Cyborg: ‘I Always Knew She Was a Cheater’ (FightLine)

- Review: ‘Haywire’, Starring Gina Carano (MMA Convert)

- Atlanta to Host UFC 146 on April 21st (5th Round)

- A Running Journal of MTV’s ‘Caged’ (Five Ounces of Pain)

- Chael Sonnen: My MMA Career Will Be a Colossal Failure Without That 12 Pounds of Gold (Lowkick.Blitzcorner.com)

- Here’s Video of Keith Jardine’s Mom Confronting Luke Rockhold’s Brother After Strikeforce (MiddleEasy)

- Rampage and King Mo Still Want to Fight Each Other — Can the UFC Make It Happen? (The Fight Nerd)

- Is the Pro-Wrestling Influence in UFC Unattractive to Female Sports Fans? (Fight Opinion)

- Update on Zuffa vs. New York: NY Files Motion (MMA Payout)

(Props: Hulu via CinemaAssassin)

…in which Gina Carano and Channing Tatum meet in a diner, and try to kill each other. If you have small children, please send them outside for a while. Elephant in the room time: They dubbed Gina’s voice, right? Ah well.

(Video courtesy of Access Hollywood)

Access Hollywood was on hand at last week’s Haywire premiere in Hollywood and got the chance to speak with a few members of the film’s cast, including its star, Gina Carano.

Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton and Obi Wan Kenobi all had great things to say about first-time actress, Carano. Hopefully the buttering up they gave her doesn’t persuade her to turn her back on MMA forever in favor of craft services and private posh trailers.

(Gina making sure her fighting career is dead with the help of an Uzi.)

Well, it’s really seeming less and less likely that Gina Carano will be coming back to compete in MMA.

In spite of the fact that she says she is undecided whether or not her professional future resides in the cage or on the big screen, Carano, who attended Friday’s UFC 141 event in Las Vegas to help promote the upcoming January 20 release of her film, “Haywire,” seems to be talking a lot in the past tense when addressing her fight career.

Gina told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani that she spent the past two-and-a-half years making the film and getting to know herself better and flip-flopped between explaining that she pulled out of her June fight with Sarah D’Alelio due to medical and personal reasons, adding that she wished that the media would just stop asking what the issue was.

Check out the video and read the most telling quotes after the jump.

(Click here for the glorious full-size version. Props: GQ via Fightlinker)

Actress/fighter Gina Carano is featured in the January 2012 issue of GQ, plugging her movie Haywire, and we’re finding it hard to concentrate on anything else today. Granted, we’ve seen some amazing photos of this woman over the years, but this is some next-level shit right here. Okay, Hollywood, you can have her. It’s for the greater good.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/HaywireMovie)

Relativity Media released a second slick new trailer for Gina Carano’s upcoming action flick “Haywire” today, and although it doesn’t really contain any new footage of note other than a not so surprising clip of Antonio Banderas saying he’s never done a woman before, it still makes us want to see the film that much more.

The jury is still out about whether or not we agree with their blatant alteration of Gina’s voice in the movie that makes her sound like a 46-year-old chain-smoking switchboard operator from a taxi company, but we’ll wait and see if it affects the overall quality of the film.

(Gina during her Madonna phase. Pic props: BullettMagazine)

Gina Carano did an interview recently with Bullett Magazine in which the former face of women’s MMA who is set to make her big screen debut when “Haywire” is released in January made an interesting analogy comparing her opponents to past lovers.

“When you fight someone, you share the experience with that one person, and you’re never going to have that experience with someone else—even in another fight. I always have this weird connection with them. It really is like we had sex. I’ll always know how many people I fought.”

Does that mean she doesn’t know how many dudes who have rear-naked-choked her or are we reading too much into the quote?

(Video courtesy of YouTube/Blockbuster.co.uk. Gina’s voiceover courtesy of Bea Arthur)

If you simply can’t wait until January to watch Gina Carano pretend to be Jason Bourne and you live within a reasonable distance to Hollywood, you’re in luck as “Haywire” has just been added to the line-up for this weekend’s AFI Film Festival according to The Playlist.

The best part is, tickets for the screening of the Steven Soderbergh film are absolutely free.

(“BRB….LOL!”)

Remember when Scott Coker said Gina Carano would be returning to the Strikeforce cage in 2011? Well, apparently he was lying.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/GinaCaranodotorg)

Last Friday at Comic-Con Gina Carano made a rare media appearance to promote her upcoming starring role in the Steven Soderbergh blockbuster film “Haywire,” which is set to be released in theatres in January 2012.

The interview above with GinaCarano.org was apparently her first since losing to Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos in 2009.

Check out the full transcription after the jump.

(Props: HaywireMovie)

Damn, Gina! Haywire looks like it might exceed our expectations. Your thoughts?

(“Stupid rental car.”)

Unless you’re Ben, in which case you can’t be within 200 yards of “Conviction,” and you’re heading to Comic-Con 2011 tomorrow, remember to go check out the Haywire Q&A with Gina Carano and director Steven Soderbergh from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Hall H.

If you do go make sure you ask Gina some of the questions below that we all want answers to, like:

What was the “medical condition” you had?

What is your phone number?

Check out another new photo from the movie and the synopsis of the film, (whose release has been delayed until January 20, 2012) after the jump.

(Photo courtesy of Relativity Media. For a larger version of Gina’s ferocious scowl, click the image.)

On July 21-24, Comic-Con 2011 will set up at the San Diego Convention Center for a nerd-tastic orgy of comic books (obviously), video games, action films, and at least one nightmare-inducing cosplay pageant. If you plan on attending next weekend, keep in mind that MMA star/actress Gina Carano will be in the building on Friday, July 22nd, as part of a sneak-preview of her long-delayed film Haywire. The presentation will go down from 12:15-1:15 PST in Hall H, if that means anything to you.

According to Carano’s manager Scott Karp, the former “Face of Women’s MMA” is “starting to feel better” following her mysterious withdrawal from Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, and may soon know about her fighting future. She is currently fielding several film offers.

Haywire was originally scheduled to hit theaters in January of this year. After some re-shoots and delays, the flick is now slated for a January 20, 2012, release.

Props to UG member “pervert” (naturally). Click for full-size version; two more after the jump. Haywire is now slated for an August release.

Gina Carano and co-star Ewan McGregor recently filmed a beach fight scene during re-shoots for their upcoming movie Haywire. Zimbio has 55 photos from the make-believe scrap in a gallery called “Ewan McGregor on the Beach.” (Way to miss the point, guys.) We went though and picked our 20 favorites. Enjoy the carnage.

(Dinner better be waiting, or else. Photo via gina-carano.org)

Just a quick update on Haywire, that Steven Soderbergh-directed action flick starring former (?) MMA fighter Gina Carano as a freelance covert operative who has to fight for her life after one of her gigs goes FUBAR. The new release date is April 22nd — for real this time — and the flick will no doubt be blown out of the water by the latest Madea poop-bomb from Tyler Perry. TheFilmStage.com passes along another detail from the shoot:

[Soderbergh] shared the pretty funny note that the film’s star Gina Carano, an MMA fighter herself, scared off some male stars* as they apparently weren’t comfortable with the idea of being beaten up by a woman onscreen…For fans of action set-pieces, they may be interested to know that there’s a “hotel suite sequence”** that the director describes as “fun.”***

* Judging from the cast, we can safely assume that either Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, or Bill Paxton is a giant pussy.

** Whoa. You mean like a sex tape?

*** Dog, you didn’t.

 
(Seriously, any excuse to run this photo…)

Gina Carano‘s upcoming star turn in Steven Soderbergh’s next action flick will reportedly hit theaters in January, and early impressions are very positive. The movie, now titled Haywire instead of Knockout, had its first test screening earlier this week, and Hollywood Elsewhere passed along a rundown of the plot and Carano’s surprisingly compelling performance:

Mallory Kane (Carano) is young, tough, beautiful, determined, and a freelance covert operative. She is hired out by her handler, Kenneth (Ewan McGregor), to various global entities, to perform jobs which governments can’t authorize and heads of state would rather not know about.

For all her looks and youth, Mallory is still the best in her field, and her skills are in constant demand. But when one of her operations goes awry, Mallory needs to use all her skills, tricks and abilities to escape an international manhunt, make it back to the United States, protect her family, and exact revenge on those that have betrayed her.