I am shy around heavy bags as well

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When Steven Soderbergh, the Oscar winning director of Traffic, calls you up to be the lead in his upcoming movie you drop everything you are doing and join up.

That is exactly what Gina Carano did when Soderbergh offered her the lead in his upcoming spy thriller, Knockout.

Today The Playlist reported the rest of the cast for Knockout: 

Sources close to the project have confirmed to us that the principal cast members supporting Carano include Michael Fassbender ("Inglourious Basterds," "Hunger"), Ewan McGregor, Dennis Quaid and Michael Douglas.

Knockout's roster is filled with A-list of actors, which is an old strategy for protecting young an inexperienced leads. Though in Carano's case, one has to wonder if she will be a little star struck as she is so inexperienced. The A-list cast, and the fact that Knockout is an action picture is a deviation for Soderbergh who recently made indie films such as the four hour long Che and The Girlfriend Experience staring adult actress Sasha Grey as an escort.

The Playlist adds some more details on the Lem Dobbs (The Score) penned screenplay:

Ultimately, "Knockout" is now more of a revenge action-spy thriller. Essentially it's hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and especially one who kicks serious ass. Double crossed by someone on her own team, Mallory Kane (Carano)- a black ops super soldier - seeks to uncover who has set her up to take the fall for a job that goes bad and involves a murder.

Clearly this represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for Carano who is taking a sabbatical from MMA after her loss to Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos for the vacant Strikeforce female featherweight title this past summer.

Despite the fact that Gina Carano has become one of MMA's brightest mainstream stars it is important to remember that her brand is that of a beautiful woman who can kick ass. Forgoing the latter component may be unwise if her acting chops aren't up to snuff.