Maze Runner and Divergent star Rosa Salazar is about to take centre stage in her own action film after being cast in Robert Rodriguez's latest high concept, big budget film Battle Angel Alita.

The American actress is set to play the titular Alita - an amnesiac female cyborg rescued from a scrapyard and rebuilt - in the anticipated adaptation of the popular Manga comic. In what promises to be her breakout role, Salazar won the lead over established stars such as Maika Monroe and Bella Thorne, and the project is set to be produced by Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron.