A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : MERRY MEN : Kevin Costner N Mel Brooks’ ‘Hood’

The King of Parodies and Prince of Thieves apparently won’t be stealing from the rich to pay the poor together in the upcoming send-up “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”

Mel Brooks, the producer-director-writer-actor of such genre lampoons as “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein,” considered offering Kevin Costner a cameo in his upcoming summer comedy from Fox, believing audiences would find it a hoot to see the star parodying his own role as a dashing, arrow-slinging hero. (Actually, the role would have been Richard the Lionheart; Robin is played by Cary Elwes.)

Then Brooks had second thoughts, according to the movie’s co-screenwriter, J. David Shapiro.

“Mel feared he would be turned down and, well, you know, Costner’s expensive,” he said.

There was some doubt that Costner would have a sense of humor, considering the barbs he received from many critics for his laid-back California/British accent as the title character in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” Despite the critics’ carping, the film became the second-highest-grossing release of 1991.

So the cameo went to a British actor whom Shapiro would not name. He hinted that this mystery actor “has traveled around the galaxy a lot.” (Hmmmmm. A “Star Trek” star?)

But Brooks may have been a little hasty. Midway through filming at the Warner Hollywood lot, Costner dropped in unannounced on the “Men in Tights” set for a visit and, according to Shapiro, joked lightheartedly that he just had to stop by “so you guys don’t make too much fun of me.”