Iggy Pop and Dario Argento crowdfunding for new horror film The Sandman

The movie from the Italian director is based on the original German tale

Iggy Pop asks for help from fans in a promotional video (YouTube)

Iggy Pop is set to play The Sandman in Dario Argento’s latest horror film – but the pair are crowdfunding so that they can make the movie “our way”.

The 67-year-old singer has been cast as a serial killer in the Italian director's adaption of the original German tale written by ETA Hoffmann. Der Sandmann was said to steal the eyes of children who wouldn’t go to bed and feed them to his own offspring on the moon.

Argento and Iggy have set up a campaign on the website Indiegogo, in the hopes of raising $250,000 for the project. With 30 days to go they have so far raised $13,833 – or six per cent of the total.

Iggy said in a promotional video posted on YouTube: “To make a Christmas movie with the maestro, with Dario Argento, that would be a dream come true.

“The master of Italian horror, the man whose strange and beautiful and terrifying films always fascinated and thrilled me.”

Argento, known for horror flicks such as Suspiria and Inferno, said he wanted to shake-up the saccharine offerings of the festive season.

"I am tired of these Christmas movies showing goodness," he said.

"Beauty, snowflakes, sleds pulled by reindeer – I’m tired of these things. I’d rather have a Christmas movie where there is also strength violence, horror, and this is what I am going to do. Christmas is coming and so is The Sandman!"

The film follows Nathan, a student scarred by the trauma of witnessing his mother’s murder at the hands of a brutal killer dubbed "The Sandman". Believing that he had killed the horrific figure years ago, Nathan is shocked to find that The Sandman has reappeared.

Iggy implored fans to get behind the campaign and support "a good, artistic, gothic, terrifying scare."