Josh Lucas - Red Dog Star Becomes Super Dog In Australia

Koko was plucked from obscurity to front the 2011 film, which is based on a true story about a dog who brought a tough Aussie community together - and his owner and trainer retired him as soon as the project wrapped when it quickly became clear the mutt wasn't fond of film sets.

Lucas, who insists the film was one of his favourite acting experiences, admits he got a sense his canine co-star wasn't as enthusiastic about the project as he was.

He tells U.S. news show Access Hollywood Live, "This dog only had ever acted for this movie and this dog hated acting... so they day the movie finished they retired him without anyone realising he was gonna end up being this international (star)... He cannot walk down the street.

"You could tell he hated it. He would do it once... and the second they yelled, 'Cut,' he would take off running... so we would have to track him down and bring him back.

"He would look at me, like, 'I'm miserable, please let me quit this job...' He was, like, one-take Koko: 'I got it done once, why am I doing it again?'"

The film, which hits cinemas in America next month (Oct12), has become one of the most successful in Australian history.

Lucas adds, "It beat Avatar... Star Wars."