The drama, based on the memoir 'A Long Way Home' by Saroo Brierley, follows a street kid from Calcutta (Patel) who is taken in and adopted by a couple in Australia, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Garth Davis, who co-directed the Golden Globe-winning mini-series 'Top Of the Lake' with Jane Campion, is attached to helm 'Lion'. Luke Davies, the screenwriter on Anton Corbijn's upcoming 'Life', adapted the book for the screen.
In addition to 'Lion', Patel plays self-taught Indian math genius Srinivasa Ramanujan in Matt Brown's period drama 'The Man Who Knew Infinity', which Mister Smith Entertainment is pitching to buyers; and co-stars in Lionsgate's Soviet-era thriller 'Child 44' and Annapurna's 'The Road Within', a remake of the hit German dramedy 'Vincent Wants to Sea'.