The role assigned to Owen Wilson in the comedy film Tropic Thunder will now be played by US actor Matthew McConaughey.

Wilson dropped out of the film, which is directed by and starring Ben Stiller, after reports of an apparent suicide attempt.

McConaughey will join a cast including Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr and Nick Nolte for the movie about a group of actors making a war movie.

Wilson was admitted to hospital last month and subsequently asked the media to allow him to “heal in private”.