Georges St-Pierre, the current UFC welterweight champion, has been cast in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. St-Pierre, or GSP as hes known to his fans, will play the villain Batroc the Leaper, a French mercenary specialising in kick-boxing and hand-to-hand fighting which (minus the criminal element) sounds like perfect casting for the MMA fighter. GSP joins an expanding cast of villains in the sequel to 2011s Captain America: The First Avenger, which includes Frank Grillo as Crossbones, a henchman of the Red Skull (played by Hugo Weaving in the first film and who doesn't appear to be returning for this sequel), and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes who was Cap's best friend and sidekick in WW2 who became the brainwashed Russian assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Also in talks to appear in the movie is Hollywood legend Robert Redford who would play a high-ranking SHIELD operative. Whether the filming, which is expected to begin shortly, will affect GSPs title defence against current no.1 welterweight contender Johny Hendricks in late summer/early fall is yet to be confirmed. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is scheduled for release on 4 April 2014.