Owen Wilson returns for dog film

Owen Wilson asked for privacy after being admitted to hospital

US actor Owen Wilson is returning to work for the first time since a reported suicide attempt last August.

The 39-year-old star will join Jennifer Aniston on 10 March to film Marley & Me for 20th Century Fox, a comedy revolving around a naughty dog.

Wilson dropped out of filming a cameo for this summer's Tropic Thunder and was replaced by Matthew McConaughey.

After being admitted to hospital last year, Wilson asked to be allowed "to heal in private".

Wilson's previous hits include Starsky and Hutch, You, Me and Dupree and The Wedding Crashers.

The latter film, which also starred Vince Vaughn and Isla Fisher, took around $285m (£146m) at the global box office in 2005.

He received an Oscar nomination in 2002 for scripting The Royal Tenenbaums with long-time collaborator Wes Anderson.

But, last year, Wilson had to drop out of the Venice premiere of Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited to recuperate at his home in Santa Monica, California.

Marley & Me, based on the bestselling book by John Grogan, is due out in the US on Christmas Day 2008.

Wilson back after 'suicide bid'

Actor Owen Wilson has attended the US premiere of his latest film, The Darjeeling Limited, almost six weeks after reports of an attempted suicide.

It was one of the 39-year-old's first public appearances since he was admitted to hospital in Los Angeles.

Wilson was joined by co-stars Adrien Brody and Anjelica Huston.

Director Wes Anderson spoke about Wilson, a long-time friend, by saying: "I've never made a movie without him and I hope I never have to."

Star avoids press

The pair have worked together on several films, including Bottle Rocket, Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.

They received an Oscar nomination for best screenplay on The Royal Tenenbaums.

In their most recent production, Wilson played Francis, one of three estranged brothers who planned a train journey through India in a bid to bond with each other.

Last month the actor dropped out of the movie's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Initially it was thought he would not attend the Los Angeles premiere either.

But he did, having sneaked into the cinema to avoid the journalists and photographers who were waiting outside.

The reports of a suicide attempt were never confirmed by the star, who asked to be allowed to "heal in private" when stories about his health emerged.