McConaughey joins 'Tropic Thunder' cast

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey has taken over the small "Tropic Thunder" film role Owen Wilson vacated when he was hospitalized last month.

Wilson’s long-time friend and collaborator, Ben Stiller, is directing and starring in the big-screen comedy, which is being shot in Hawaii.

Co-starring Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Bill Hader and Steve Coogan, the movie is about a group of actors, making a big-budget war movie on a remote island, who are forced to become the soldiers they are playing, Variety.com said Wednesday.

Wilson and Stiller have previously worked together on "Meet the Parents," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Starsky and Hutch," "Night at the Museum" and "The Cable Guy."

Wilson dropped out of "Tropic Thunder" after a reported suicide attempt.

This marks the first time McConaughey and Stiller are working together.

McConaughey has previously starred in "We Are Marshall," "Sahara" and "The Wedding Planner."