Ian Somerhalder, star of the CW's The Vampire Diaries, has signed to topline the Gothic fairy tale Cradlewood.

Hand Picked Films and Instinct Entertainment are behind the indie being directed by Harry Weinmann.

The movie centers on an Australian woman living in Boston with the heir (Somerhalder) to an incredible fortune. His family history involves a legendary pact made with a demon which ensures that whenever a boy is born into the family, the father is killed.

The heir suspects his girlfriend is pregnant, and after strange events occur, he comes to believe he will die if he continues to fall in love.

Emma Lung (The Boys Are Back) will play the Australian woman.

Cradlewood is based on an original story by Weinmann. Stephen Sewell (The Boys) and John Paul Chapple (Bathroy) wrote the script.

Cradlewood is eyeing production in April, during Somerhalder's hiatus from Diaries. The actor also is known for his work on ABC's Lost.