By Frank Keogh BBC Sport Online

Every great sport has been the subject of a blockbuster film and now it's the turn of... Darts: The Movie.

Poison Arrow: Little plays Perry Peters

The Embassy World Darts Championship is providing the backdrop to a new big-screen story, starring Ralf Little from BBC TV comedy The Royle Family.

Poison Arrows will tell the dramatic story of Perry "the Poison Arrow" Peters, a young darts player who reaches the final of the 2008 tournament.

The film features Little as a player who succeeds despite a bizarre under-arm throwing action.

Hailing from a family of Kung Fu experts, Peters is a futuristic darts star who wears an outfit billed as "half-lizard, half-superhero".

Darts stars including Andy 'The Viking' Fordham, Raymond 'Barney' Barneveld and Ted 'The Count' Hankey are likely to appear in the movie.

Glamour girls: Darts attracts a glitzy line-up

Famous referee Martin Fitzmaurice and his legendary catchphrase "Let's Play Darts!" will also feature prominently.

The picture is billed as "a quirky, futuristic, rags-to-riches film that tracks the rise and fall - and rise again - of Perry Peters".

Co-writer Simon Sprackling told BBC Sport Online: "His big rival is quite a sleazy character called 'Cocky' Rocky Goldfingers.

"We will be filiming stuff with a lot of razzamatazz - dancing girls, people on stilts, explosions."

LITTLE GEMS

Name: Ralf Little Hails from: Bury, Lancs Early role: In children's cricket drama Sloggers Big break: As Anthony in BBC TV comedy The Royle Family Also seen in: Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps; Paradise Heights

It is understood a famous American TV star is being lined up to play the key role of a former wrestling supremo who revamps the world of darts.

The British Darts Organisation, promoters of the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship, is acting as consultant in all darts-related matters.

Filming has started in between matches at the 2003 Embassy championship being staged at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, in Surrey.

Spectators cheered loudly as Little, wearing a tight-fitting bright green outfit, took on the Flingin' Finn in one scene.

I didn't realise how mental a darts crowd is Actor Ralf Little

And the crowd played their part by chanting "Arrow, Arrow" at the actor.

Sprackling said: "They have been superb - beyond anything I could have expected."

It is hoped the film will be screened in cinemas to coincide with the 2004 tournament in a year's time.