Freelance journalist Don Groves is a Deadline contributor based in Sydney

EXCLUSIVE: Family film Red Dog took more than $21M in Australia after its release last year, landing it at number 8 on the all-time chart of home-grown grossers. Collaring North American rights, ARC Entertainment will give it a simultaneous theatrical, VOD and DVD release later this summer, producer Nelson Woss tells Deadline. In Australia, the DVD is the third best seller ever behind Avatar and Finding Nemo. Adapted from a novel by Louis de Bernières and directed by Kriv Stenders, the film was inspired by the true story of a dog in the Australian outback who travelled hundreds of miles in search of his long lost master. Josh Lucas and Rachael Taylor star. Woss is also fielding expressions of interest in remake rights from several US producers and is developing a stage musical based on the film with Australian producer John Frost. The deal was negotiated by ARC’s Rich Goldberg and Peter Jarowey and ICM Partners, which also represents Stenders.