![]() ![]() ![]() With this characterization in mind, his first choice for the part was Richard Dreyfuss. Producer De Laurentiis’ initial vision of the film’s hero Douglas Quaid (originally named “Quail”)/Carl Hauser was decidedly more in line with Dick’s short story: A schlubby office drone who dreams of a more exciting life. THE QUAID/HAUSER CHARACTER WENT THROUGH AN IMAGE OVERHAUL. Chief among them was the community of Martian mutants-among the movie’s most memorable elements-including the major character Kuato. SOME OF CRONENBERG’S CREATIONS REMAIN IN THE FINAL CUT.Īlthough the project shifted gears in a major way following Cronenberg’s departure, he did leave behind a few creative concepts that survived in the version of Total Recall that hit theaters. Dick version.’ I said, ‘Isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?’” 4. While the director approached the project hoping to pay homage to Dick’s writing, its producers fostered a divergent vision that Cronenberg described as “ Raiders of the Lost Ark Go to Mars.” In a 2003 conversation with WIRED, the filmmaker remembered an odd exchange with the writing team: “Eventually we got to a point where Ron Shusett said, ‘You know what you've done? You've done the Philip K. CRONENBERG’S VERSION WAS CONSIDERED TOO FAITHFUL TO THE STORY.Īs the story always goes, “creative differences” prompted Cronenberg to jump ship on Total Recall. ![]() (By the time Total Recall actually went into production, Beresford would be gone, too.) 3. Cronenberg returned his sights to The Fly-a newly vacant job after the departure of Bierman due to a personal tragedy-ultimately making it his most iconic feature. He opted to take on Total Recall instead of an offer to direct a different film: The Fly, which was then snagged by commercial director Robert Bierman.Īfter spending a year working on the Dick adaptation, Cronenberg parted ways with production, handing the baton off to Tender Mercies director Bruce Beresford. David Cronenberg, then only on the precipice of his cult glory, was the first director assigned to the project. Įven after Shusett and O’Bannon’s script found a patron in power producer Dino De Laurentiis, setbacks persisted as finding the right director proved challenging. TOTAL RECALL ALMOST COST THE WORLD THE FLY. ![]() (This distraction would prove rather fortuitous, ultimately becoming the screenplay for Ridley Scott’s Alien.) Over the course of many years, the screenplay went through more than 40 revisions. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.” The pair purchased the rights to the piece that year, but soon hit the first of many delays on the road to the screen.ĭifficulties in reimagining the story as a film forced the pair to take a long break from the Dick story to work on a different project. In 1976, fledgling screenwriters Ronald Shusett and Dan O’Bannon teamed up to adapt Philip K. THE MOVIE WAS IN DEVELOPMENT FOR OVER A DECADE. Even if you’ve rewatched the film ad nauseam on cable reruns, there are still a few facts you might not know about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s modern classic. We may be eager to forget its lackluster 2012 remake, but the 1990 blockbuster Total Recall-which was released 25 years ago today-will live forever as a benchmark of gloriously silly science fiction. ![]()
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