Los Angeles, Sep 7 (IANS) Actress Kate Hudson will reportedly replace Rebel Wilson in the third installment of the “Kung Fu Panda” franchise.

As the production was extended, Wilson had to exit due to scheduling conflicts, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

According to some sources it is a little bit unusual to hear someone being replaced just five months before the film’s release.

Some speculated that the scheduling conflict was made up to cover another reason.

Probably Wilson’s performance wasn’t working for some reason and they had to find someone who was more appropriate for the role.

Wilson was initially set to voice a new character named Mei Mei. She is a lady panda who is romantically obsessed with the heroic panda Po.

“Kung Fu Panda 3” follows Po who is reuniting with his long-lost father and discovering a secret panda paradise. When the mighty supernatural villain emerges, Po must do the most difficult task ever. He has to train a village full of pandas to master the martial arts.

Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the animated comedy is scheduled for a release in US on January 29, 2016.