For those who love science fiction, action and delights of deliciously outdated special effects, Total Recall is a classic. As long as you grew up in the 90s, you could not miss this gender cinema monster which will have been entitled to a completely forgettable remake in 2012. The first adaptation of the novel by Philip K.Dick remains a monument of the seventh art, well helped by the imagination of his director. However, the project could have been very different. Back on his journey from the pages to the screen.
By Alien’s writers: the eighth passenger
In the 1970s, the new Memories for sale of Philip K.Dick attracts the attention of two authors. Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett are starting to work on the adaptation of this ambitious novel. For several years, they are actively working to hatch the story of Douglas Quail, an employee of the future who dreams of one day going to March. These income does not allow him to undertake such a trip and his wife Kirsten firmly opposes it. He will then go to Rekal Inc., a company that implants false memories on its customers. Against a certain sum, Douglas may have the memories of an alleged journey to the red planet. On the day of the intervention, technicians discover that his memory has already been erased. Quickly, killers launched after him.
The project is futuristic, ambitious and requires technologies that do not yet exist. Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett will abandon the idea to focus on another science fiction story, just as illustrious. They abandon Total Recall to develop Alien, the eighth passenger. Ridley Scott invites himself to the realization and the film was released in 1979 and was the success that he knows. Over the years following the years, the adaptation of the story of Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett has passed from hand to land in those of Dino de Laurentiis. The latter quickly imagines entrusting the first role to Richard Dreyfuss (The teeth of the sea).
A circumstance competition
Some time after the box of Dirty DancingFrom Laurentiis imagines that Patrick Swayze could have the build to carry such a project on his shoulders. Arnold Schwarzenegger has already expressed his interest in the character, but the producer does not hear him. In an interview with The Ringer in 2020, the actor explains:
“He always said to me, Schwarzenegger, I would like you to be Conan. I don’t like you to be in Total Recall. I have Jeff Bridges ”.
Faced with these refusals, the one who will well become Conan the Barbarian, focuses on other projects and universes. At the same time, David Cronenberg (the fly) works on adaptation with William Hurt in the main role. He will abandon after a year of development and a dozen scenario. It was in 1988 that the situation resulted in Schwarzenegger who learned of the bankruptcy of Laurentiis’ business. The critical and commercial failure of Dune By David Lynch is right for Laurenti’s interest in science fiction and Total Recall. At the time, Bruce Beresford was behind the camera and the release date was set in December 1988. Swayze is still announced as the first role.
Schwarzenegger wants to rush into the breach opened by the financial difficulties of Laurentiis. The construction of the sets is underway and eight million dollars have already been spent. “As soon as I read that, I said to myself… He owns Total Recall”. He thus called his Carolco Pictures employees and investors to convince them that the game is worth the candle. Mario Kassar and Andrew Vanja offers adaptation rights and serves the role to Schwarzy on a silver set. He hires Paul Verhoeven to stage this story. The director of Robocop invites Gary Goldman to rewrite the scenario.
From accountant to worker
Due to his build, the actor and bodybuilder finds it difficult for an accountant. Gary Goldman therefore has the idea of making a worker on a site. From then on, the machine is underway and Total Recall becomes a delighted and fun adventure alongside a spy that is ignored. Paul Verhoeven’s film becomes a classic, in the same way as RoboCopand the performance of Schwarzenegger enters the Pantheon. Criticism is rather enthusiastic and success is there. It will display a box office of $ 260 million (not indexed to inflation) and will be among the hits of the genre.
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