Morena Baccarin to play female lead in 'Deadpool'

Los Angeles: 'Homeland' star Morena Baccarin has nabbed the female lead role in 'Deadpool', an action movie based on the Marvel character.

Tim Miller is directing the action-adventure project, which stars Ryan Reynolds as an assassin who undergoes a procedure to cure his cancer that ends up leaving him twisted and scarred but also imbued with superpowers, according to Hollywood Reporter.

TJ Miller and Gina Carano are already attached to the project, which is eyeing a March shoot and is slated for an early 2016 release.

Baccarin, 35, was one of a handful of actresses shortlisted for the role of Reynolds' character's love interest. The character grapples with falling for a man with a hideously scarred face.

The film is based on a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Simon Kinberg is producing with Lauren Shuler Donner. On the film side, Baccarin will appear in Paul Feig's upcoming action-comedy 'Spy', opposite Melissa McCarthy.