Actor Matthew McConaughey has been confirmed as Owen Wilson's replacement in comedy film Tropic Thunder, Owen Wilson, 38, dropped out of the movie after an apparent suicide attempt in August. The film about a group of actors making a big-budget war movie, who are forced to become the characters they play is directed and stars Ben Stiller. Wilson, who was admitted to hospital last month, asked to be allowed to "heal in private" in a statement. McConaughey, 37, has an uncredited cameo in the Tropic Thunder, according to his publicist, in previous films, such as The Wedding Planner and Ed TV, McConaughey had starring roles. In Tropic Thunder he will feature alongside Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr and Nick Nolte in the movie, which is being filmed in Hawaii. Wilson's previous hits include The Wedding Crashers, in which he and Vince Vaughn played men who show up uninvited at weddings in order to get dates. . Wilson, who had been dating actress Kate Hudson until recently, has also starred in Starsky and Hutch, Zoolander, and You, Me and Dupree. He was nominated for an Oscar in 2002 for his writing work on The Royal Tenenbaums.

Last month he dropped out of the Venice premiere of his new film, The Darjeeling Limited, to recuperate at his home in California.

Film-maker Wes Anderson, said the actor was "doing well" .

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