 Richard Stanley (I) (qv) originally wanted Bill Paxton (qv) as  Mo and Jeffrey Combs (qv) as Shades. Paxton was enthusiastic about  the script, but Miramax and Palace Pictures did not know anything  about him, so they didnt contact his agent, and Paxton signed on  for _Navy Seals (1990)_ (qv) instead. Combs couldnt be cast because  British union rules allowed them to hire only two Americans.