Somerhalder for gothic romance 'Cradlewood'

Ian Somerhalder will star in Cradlewood, a low-budget indie described as a "romantic gothic fairy tale".

The former Lost actor will play the heir to a large fortune in a bloodline cursed by a demon. When his Australian girlfriend falls pregnant, he begins to fear for his life because each father in his family has died after having a son.

Emma Lung, who appears in the upcoming The Boys Are Back, has been cast as Somerhalder's girlfriend.

Harry Weinmann will direct Cradlewood from an idea he hatched with screenwriters Stephen Sewell and John Paul Chapple. Michael Shane and David Redman are producing the film, which will shoot in Melbourne.

"We see this is as almost like an American-style Pan's Labyrinth in look and feel," Shane told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's a perfect segue for the kids who have outgrown Twilight but want something romantic and scary. Our monster will be quite terrifying; she is sexually attractive and monstrous at the same time."