UFC champ Georges St-Pierre lands role in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'

With his knee healed and two recent title defenses under his belt, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is keeping a busy schedule.

That’s true both in and out of the cage; the longtime titleholder has accepted the role of Batroc The Leaper in the upcoming film “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Latino Review first reported the news on Monday.

The film, which is based on a Marvel Comic and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, hits theaters in April 2014. Filming begins in about a month, though it’s not expected to keep St-Pierre on the sidelines for an extended time.

The movie is a sequel to the 2011 hit “Captain America: The First Avenger,” which grossed $369 million worldwide. In addition to St-Pierre, the sequel stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and others.

The 31-year-old St-Pierre is no stranger to the big screen. The French-Canadian had small roles in straight-to-video films such as “Death Warrior” and “Never Surrender,” but this latest role is his first true mainstream part. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported this past November, St-Pierre is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which has helped the fighter gain the type of mainstream opportunities that once were rare in the MMA industry.

St-Pierre’s character in “Captain America,” Batroc The Leaper, first appeared in comic books in 1966. The mercenary is a master of savate, a French form of kickboxing.

St-Pierre (24-2 MMA, 18-2 UFC), who’s currently on vacation following his UFC 158 win over Nick Diaz earlier this month, is next scheduled to fight top contender Johny Hendricks (15-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC). However, a date hasn’t been set for their title fight.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.