 Gene Wilder (qv) was originally offered the role of Hedley Lamarr  but he didnt feel right for it and told Mel Brooks (I) (qv) that  he wanted The Waco Kid instead. However, Brooks wanted someone older  for The Waco Kid, someone like Dan Dailey (qv). Dailey was  originally considered for the role of the Waco Kid but got cold feet  at the last moment.