There was little chance of someone other than Michael Hayden playing Billy at Lincoln Center as Frank Rich loved Hayden when he reviewed the production at its premiere at the National Theater, London.
And one of the NY producers of the revival told me that he didn't think the production worked without Hayden.
Patrick Wilson was hired to play Billy in the US tour of this production and you can compare Hayden and Wilson in the official press reels for Broadway and the tour.
