Matthew McConaughey has been lined up to replace Owen Wilson in the new Ben Stiller-directed movie Tropic Thunder, according to reports.

The Wedding Crashers actor was unable to carry out the cameo that he had planned to shoot following his hospitalisation after his alleged attempted suicide last month.

Variety reports that Sahara star McConaughey will now be taking his place in the film about a group of famous actors making a combat movie, who then find themeselves being forced into a real war situation.

The paper claims that Wilson's role was an uncredited cameo and that McConaughey will be working on the film set in Hawaii. Jack Black, Steve Coogan and Robert Downey Jr will also star in the project.