Sony Pictures is planning a big-screen version of an ultra-popular YouTube video about a lion reuniting with the two men who set him free in Africa, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Millions of viewers watched the "Christian the Lion" video, which features a couple of scenes from a '70s documentary about John Rendall and Anthony "Ace" Bourke, two men who bought a lion cup from Harrods department and later set it free in Africa.

What is so striking about the footage is how the lion recogizes the two men after spending one year in the wild. After a short hesitation, Christian rushes toward them before they all embrace in a spectacular fashion.

Sony Pictures is currently in progress of acquiring the rights to Rendall and Bourke's book "A Lion Called Christian."

See what YouTube can do? Check out the original video just above.