Sarah Michelle Gellar

STUNNING Sarah Michelle Gellar could star in a movie being shot in Lulworth Cove next summer.

The actress - best known for Buffy The Vampire Slayer - is being lined up for the lead role in new feature film Emma of Lulworth Cove.

Producers also hope to persuade actress Anna Friel to take a part in the movie.

Filmmakers Newcomen Productions are now appealing for local businesses to help them find the remaining £1 million needed to fund the picture.

The supernatural thriller will tell the tale of Emma, a beautiful apparition from an 18th century shipwreck who wanders present-day Lulworth Cove.

She falls passionately in love with a man called Robbie, only for him to later leave and find a new love.

Emma sets out to destroy Robbie’s marriage to Zara - and keep him for herself.

Executive producer Ray Stokes, who wrote the novel the film is based on, said director John McCormack is in discussions with Miss Gellar.

He said: "We needed somebody reasonably high—profile in order to secure distribution. It’s down to the people who are funding us. It’s an American company so they wanted somebody who is internationally successful and American.

"We’re fairly confident we can secure her. Even if we don’t we will definitely have someone of her calibre."

Miss Gellar, 30, is married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr and starred in hit horror movies Scream 2 and I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Mr Stokes, who was born in Bournemouth, said most of the £8 million funding has already been secured.

"We’re nearly there but we still need £1 million," he said.

Any companies helping us out will get a credit in the film and maybe some discreet advertising.

"The movie is assured to be a success here in the UK and will help local tourism."

Mr Stokes said that if local support is not forthcoming the filming could be switched to North America. "We want to keep the film as British as possible so it would be great to get some local funding," he added.

"We also want to make the cast up of local people."