An American film company plans to bring the story of a Barnsley missionary to the big screen, and local people want it to be filmed in town.
The story of James Hudson Taylor, who moved to China and founded a Christian movement, is to be the subject of a feature length film.
Denver-based Half Crown Media plans to make a movie about the 19th century medical student's life and tell the remarkable story of how he came to be revered as a hero by 70 million Chinese Christians.
Hudson Taylor was born in Barnsley in 1832 and founded the China Inland Mission, venturing from coastal Chinese cities to inland provinces, where other Westerners were afraid to go.
UK-based screenwriter and filmmaker Bart Gavigan is writing the screenplay and has a track record of bringing larger-than-life historical figures to the big screen, such as 2003's 'Luther' and the award-winning 2006 film 'End of the Spear'.
Chairman of the James Hudson Taylor Group, John Foster, said: "We're talking big names here, it's a big movie.
"They want to make two documentaries and a feature length movie at the same time, using the same footage for each."
John said some of the filming should be done in Barnsley but many film companies prefer to shoot historic scenes in Belfast.
"We've got this competition with Belfast. Because of the Troubles, there are a lot of premises and streets which have not changed since the 1800s, which has made it a fantastic film location for period films.
"If you look at Barnsley from Elsecar to Penistone to the town centre and areas like Old Town, there are lots of places which could be good for film sets.
"Why film it somewhere else when you can film it in the real place?"
He said it was important to include Salem Chapel, on Blucher Street, where Hudson Taylor used to preach, in the film so people could then come and visit it.
• Chinese investors want to build a 24-hour shopping centre and authentic Chinese restaurant in Barnsley in the hopes of attracting Chinese Christian pilgrims to the town. More here.
