It was little over a year ago that mixed martial artist turned Steven Soderbergh muse Gina Carano was cast in Fast & Furious 6. While she’s kicked tons of ass on and off screen, it also seems she kicked her way through the glass ceiling, as now another female MMA fighter is now following in Carano's footsteps. Variety reports UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey has entered into negotiations for Fast & Furious 7, and that she has signed on to Sylvester Stallone’s Expendables 3.
For Rousey, these will be her one-two punch entries into acting and film. Should she sign on for the reported supporting role in Fast & Furious 7, she would essentially shoot the two films back to back, leaving her the 45 days she needs to train for her next professional bout with Mischa Tate on December 28th. Rousey is also arranging to have her team keep her in modified training during both shoots, however.
There are no details about what role Rousey will play in either movie, which really isn’t surprising as filmmakers from both are keeping mum on their plot lines for now. What we do know about Fast & Furious 7 is that Fast 3-6 helmer Justin Lin has left the franchise to be replaced by James Wan, whose latest film, The Conjuring, is currently scaring up impressive box office totals and warm reviews. Screenwriter Chris Morgan is back for the next installment of the racing franchise, and Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are definitely on board, , as is Jason Statham, who insists he is not playing the villain in the sequel. Rousey will be the first major role—aside from these—cast in the seventh installment of the franchise, which is currently tearing it up worldwide with box office figures totaling more than $771 million, making it Universal Picture’s highest grossing film. This series is obviously a major priority to the studio, and this role would obviously be great for launching Rousey’s career as a action heroine.
If she doesn’t sign on for some inexplicable reason, she still has Expendables 3. Considering Stallone suggested he was seeking a “young Sigourney Weaver” for the film, I’m assuming this will be the part Rousey will fill (meanwhile Carano will front an all-female version of the franchise that has brings together brawny action heroes of now and way back when). Rousey joins a cast that includes Statham, Stallone, Nicolas Cage, Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Milla Jovovich and Harrison Ford, but not Bruce Willis.
Considering both Carano and Rousey came from MMA backgrounds, their movie careers will inevitably be compared for years to come. However, with the rise of women seen in action movies this summer, it looks like there’s room enough for both to thrive. And who knows, with the Furious franchise’s penchant for raising the dead, Carano could return and face off with Rousey for a brawl that will put her jaw-dropping subway battle from Fast 6 to shame!
Check out Rousey in action below:
Fast & Furious 7 is said to be set in Los Angeles, but will shoot in Atlanta this Fall. Expendables 3 will shoot this fall in Bulgaria.
