Morena Baccarin to star with Ryan Reynolds in 'Deadpool'

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Morena Baccarin has joined the cast of Deadpool.

The 35-year-old actress will portray the female lead, according to an exclusive from The Hollywood Reporter. Ryan Reynolds is slated to reprise the title character in the standalone Marvel film, with Gina Carano and T.J. Miller recently confirmed for the project.

Reynolds first portrayed the mutant in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and took to Twitter to tease his new costume last week. In the comics, Deadpool is the alias of Wade Wilson, an unstable and morally ambiguous mercenary who possesses accelerated healing powers.

Deadpool is scheduled to open in theaters February 12, 2016. Tim Miller will direct the feature, with Lauren Shuler Donner as producer. The movie will reportedly see Deadpool acquire both his powers and disfiguring scars after undergoing a procedure for terminal cancer.

Baccarin is best known for her role as Inara Serra on Firefly. She currently portrays Jessica Brody on Homeland and Erika Flynn on The Mentalist, and is slated to appear in a recurring capacity as Dr. Leslie Thompkins on Gotham.