Poignant 'hugging' lion video inspires movie

[WINGS]

Poignant 'hugging' lion video inspires movie
Negotiations under way for film rights after reunion becomes YouTube hit

updated 4:02 a.m. ET, Fri., Sept. 5, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Millions have seen the YouTube video of "Christian the Lion" reuniting in Africa with the two men who bought him from a high-end London department store in 1969.

Sony Pictures aims to bring the story of Christian and the two men, John Rendall and Anthony "Ace" Bourke, to the big screen.

The studio is in the process of securing the life-story rights of Rendall and Bourke and their 1972 book, "A Lion Called Christian."

One of the most-viewed YouTube videos of the reunion features Whitney Houston belting out "I Will Always Love You" in the background to footage from a 1971 documentary about the two men visiting Christian a year after they sent him to Africa to be reintroduced into the wild.

The men are unsure whether Christian will recognize them, and the lion approaches them slowly at first. Christian then rushes toward them and affectionately "hugs" them — provoking tears from nearly everyone who views the video.

[Whiskey Six]

My girlfriend loves the video so much that I bought her a DVD copy of the original 1971 documentary. Pretty amazing story.

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/shop/acatalog/Videos_and_DVDs.html

[PBCounty]

I git $5 that says they change the lion's name for the film - don't want to offend anyone you know.

Great little YouTube video by the way.

[major]

Just in case people haven't seen the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNTdWbVBgc

[havensal]

<---- Prefers not to be hugged by anything larger than his wife. :wow:

[Whiskey Six]

Just in case people haven't seen the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNTdWbVBgc

That is so cool. My allergies act up everytime I see it, though.:supergrin:

[PlaneJane]

Christian then rushes toward them and affectionately "hugs" them — provoking tears from nearly everyone who views the video.

If Christian had run and jumped up on me like that, it would have provoked urine from me.

Jane

[Ffolkes]

There are other "lion hugging" vids out there that don't end so well, most lions don't stay Mr. Snugglekitten for long after release.

[Uzi4U]

What a great story and a great video. Can't wait for the movie.

[harlenm]

It's probably one the coolest videos on youtube.

[1-2man]

There are other "lion hugging" vids out there that don't end so well, most lions don't stay Mr. Snugglekitten for long after release.

Exactly. This would have been a much different story if the lion was really hungry.:supergrin:

[SVTNate]

That wasn't a hug, that was the lion feeling for body fat, picking the best pieces to eat first :supergrin:

[Razrbk444]

Pretty cool video. :thumbsup:

[chevydriver]

I found a recent interview with the 2 guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENdv7NxelgY&feature=related

[JimBianchi]

I speak from experiance when I say 95% of the time when a big cat hugs you he is just seeing if you need a salt or pepper before lunch.

[Drjones]

That's cute and it will make a great Disney cartoon and all, but really - I've heard of waaaaaaaaaaay too many cases where a trainer raises a WILD ANIMAL from a baby and it turns and mauls him one day, for no reason.........

Those guys are lucky, not loved by the lion........:upeyes:

If you want affection, get a wife or a dog.

Wild animals eat people given the chance.

[Sidhe]

That's pretty cool, I've never seen that video before.

His body language did seem to be recognition and nothing else.