Marlon Brando, who made headlines earlier this month when he agreed to play a cameo role as an exorcist in Dimension Films' Scary Movie 2 for an estimated $2m, has been forced to drop out of the project due to illness.

"Unfortunately, due to his health issues and unavailability, we must now recast his role," said Dimension's senior vice president of publicity Elizabeth Clark. "We wish Mr Brando a speedy recovery."

Scary Movie 2, a sequel to the low budget teen horror spoof which grossed a massive $157m last summer, is set to open on July 4. Again directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, it stars Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Anna Faris and Regina Hall.

Brando will be seen in Paramount/Mandalay's thriller The Score opposite Robert De Niro, Edward Norton and Angela Bassett opening on July 13.