Following a starring and debut role in "Haywire," Gina Carano now has been cast for the lead film role in the upcoming action-thriller "In the Blood."

The news comes from "The Hollywood Reporter."

The new gig casts further doubt on the Strikeforce fighter's potential return to the MMA cage.

According to the report, the film, which John Stockwell will direct, begins principal photography "in late spring or early summer in Puerto Rico." That schedule all but assures Carano won't return to Strikeforce by year's end.

Carano (7-1 MMA, 1-1 SF) hasn't fought since an August 2009 title loss to Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos. Soon after, famed director Steven Soderbergh cast the 29-year-old for "Haywire," which opened nationwide this past month to largely positive reviews. Many reviewers singled out Carano, who starred alongside the likes of Ewan McGregor and Michael Douglas, for her performance.

"In the Blood" focuses on a woman (Carano) who hunts down her kidnapped husband while on vacation in the Caribbean.

Following "Haywire" filming, Carano was slated to fight Sarah D'Alelio this past June at "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum," though she ultimately withdrew from the card for undisclosed reasons. She also was targeted for a Strikeforce fight this past December, but the booking never materialized. Nevertheless, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has maintained the former muay Thai fighter will always have an open invitation to return to the promotion.

Before her loss to Santos, Carano became arguably MMA's highest-profile female fighter following an undefeated run in the now-defunct EliteXC organization.