ðɪ aɪdˈiə fɚðə pɹˈɑːdʒɛkt kˈeɪm fɹʌm pɹˈaɪɚz ɪnˈɪʃəl fɹʌstɹˈeɪʃən ʌv bˌiːɪŋ ɹᵻdʒˈɛktᵻd fɹʌm stˈɑːɹɹɪŋ ɪn mˈɛl bɹˈʊksᵻz blˈeɪzɪŋ sˈædəlz ˈæftɚ kəlˈæbɚɹˌeɪɾɪŋ wɪð hˌɪm ɔnðə skɹˈiːnpleɪ, ænd wˈɪljəmsənz dɪslˈaɪk ʌvðə fˈɪnɪʃt fˈɪlm, wˌɪtʃ hiː kənsˈɪdɚd sˈɪli.
The idea for the project came from Pryor's initial frustration of being rejected from starring in Mel Brooks's Blazing Saddles after collaborating with him on the screenplay, and Williamson's dislike of the finished film, which he considered silly.