GINA CARANO: ROLES SHE WOULD BE GREAT IN

Gina Carano has proven how impressive she can be in action roles, and that got me thinking about various roles I’d like to see her in.

BELIT, THE QUEEN OF THE BLACK COAST – For people who aren’t fans of Robert E. Howard I’ll mention that the female pirate captain was the great love in the life of Conan the Barbarian. Queen of the Black Coast (1934) is one of the greatest Conan stories ever, but it’s a challenge casting a woman who could plausibly bring Belit (pronounced bay-LEET) to life. Enter Gina Carano, who would seem perfectly natural swinging her sword, kicking butt and barking out orders to her crew.

XENA, WARRIOR PRINCESS – Okay, this one may seem too obvious, but what can ya do? Gina Carano would make a perfect Xena. With modern special effects, her adventures against monsters and other figures from Greek mythology could be brought to life like never before. And the fight scenes would be much more well-executed with a real-life athlete like Gina in the starring role as the Warrior Princess.   

JIREL OF JOIRY – This red-haired warrior woman created by female author C.L. Moore in the 1930s really WAS depicted in the kind of adventures that many people associate with Red Sonja. Jirel of Castle Joiry was like a combination of the Game of Thrones characters Arya, Daenerys and Sansa. Gina Carano fighting her way through hostile armies and supernatural menaces would be terrific. Jirel battled Lovecraftian-type entities, too.

POKER ALICE – Let’s face it, Elizabeth Taylor played Poker Alice in name only in that tv movie. Gina Carano would REALLY portray this famous female gambler/ gunslinger. Whether smoking cigars, engaging in gunfights, beating out men for large poker pots or going on shopping sprees with her poker winnings in 1800s Big Cities, Gina could handle all of it in fine form. And Poker Alice deserves another movie or two.

THUNDRA – This Marvel Comics superheroine, part of the fictional Femizons, is a tailor-made role for someone like Gina Carano. Given Gina’s background in professional fighting, she would be a natural for wielding Thundra’s chain in battle. A film featuring her fighting the Hulk or Thor or her archrival the Thing could be a blockbuster for sure. 

THE KANSAS CITY BOMBER – This one is not a surefire hit, but it would feature Gina Carano in a remake of the Raquel Welch movie from the 1970s, only updated for the Roller Derby of the 2020s. Hear me out on this – Raquel’s version offered a look at the gimmickry behind Roller Derby in a way that easily carried over to pro wrestling and the similar dramatic “works” that they stage for their viewers. Risky, but if Gina pulled off the dramatic elements behind the scenes in this story, I’d love to see this. (And yes, I know Gina wasn’t a wrestler, I’m just comparing the “show-biz” nature of so much that goes on in both Roller Derby and pro wrestling.) 

RED SONYA – For the very first time, Red Sonya (not Sonja) of Rogatino, Robert E. Howard’s Polish-Ukrainian heroine could be presented in the character’s REAL fictional setting – the 1520s. Gina Carano as Red Sonya with Chris Hemsworth as Gottfried von Kalmbach would be an explosive mix! Seeing Gina wielding 1500s pistols as well as a sword on the big screen would attract audiences like crazy. Add the historical backdrop of the Siege of Vienna and you’ve got magic.   

LASKARINA BOUBOULINA – This female naval leader during the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Turks could become much better known with a celebrity like Gina Carano playing her. This wouldn’t have to be the definitive movie about the world’s first female Admiral but done as an actioner it would elevate Laskarina’s name recognition and lead to more earnest efforts down the road. The “Kapetenissa” (female captain) and her 1820s activities deserve a major motion picture. Especially her real-life freeing of the harem slaves held by a Muslim Pasha.  

I could go on and on, picturing Gina as Calamity Jane, or a female Tarzan-like figure, or Wonder Woman, maybe Big Barda, you name it!