 Gregory Hines (qv) was the first choice to play Reggie Hammond but  dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with  _Cotton Club, The (1984)_ (qv). In fact, Eddie Murphy (I) (qv)  later confessed that he was the "fourth or fifth" choice for the  part. Other actors considered for the role included  Richard Pryor (qv), the late Howard E. Rollins Jr. (qv) and a  young Denzel Washington (qv).