Director Len Wiseman’s upcoming Total Recall is one of those projects that straddles the often fine line between remake and reinterpretation. It’s not a scene-by-scene refashioning of Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 film; however, if early descriptions are accurate, the new Total Recall also deviates significantly from Philip K. Dick’s original source material, the short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.”
Wiseman’s Total Recall will be a fairly a straightforward sci-fi adventure, in comparison to that of Verhoeven’s creation – which was largely just a violent Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle. It is also expected to focus more on the metaphysical themes and implications of Dick’s literature… and probably borrow a few tricks from Inception‘s playbook, when it comes to the art of mixing brains with brazen set pieces.
Previously-released photos from the Total Recall set revealed hovercars and cops wearing futuristic armor – the likes of which are fairly reminiscent of previous sci-fi titles (ex. Demolition Man, Minority Report, etc.) while still being sufficiently unique and imaginative in design, on their own.
The latest batch of set pics reveal some additional familiar, but satisfactory, visual sci-fi tropes – including more technologically-advanced vehicles, Colin Farrell dressed all in black, and Jessica Biel looking ready for battle in a form-fitting costume. A little something for everyone, in other words. 
Check those out Total Recall set photos (via Coming Soon) in the gallery below:
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Here is a semi-official plot synopsis for Wiseman’s Total Recall:
The film’s new story involves the nation states of Euromerica and New Shanghai, with Douglas Quaid (Farrell) a factory worker in the latter who begins to believe he is a spy, although he doesn’t know for which side. Vilos Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston) is the leader of Euromerica who, under the cover of protecting his people, is secretly readying an invasion of New Shanghai.
The absence of the Martian setting (imagined and/or real) won’t be the only additional difference between the new and old Total Recall movies. Wiseman spoke with Collider a while ago and revealed that his film will be Rated PG-13 – unlike Verhoeven’s originally X-Rated mix of gory violence and nudity (which infamously included a three-breasted mutant woman on Mars). While an Unrated cut of Wiseman’s Total Recall will be released when it hits DVD/Blu-ray, it’s hard to tell at this point whether the theatrical release will really suffer for it (re: feel like it’s been noticeably-edited down, to avoid an R-Rating).
Colin Farrell as Douglas Quaid in 'Total Recall'
Wiseman is a pretty competent action filmmaker and his Total Recall was scripted by a trio of writers – Mark Bomback (Live Free or Die Hard), Kurt Wimmer (Salt), and James Vanderbilt (The Losers) – who have all worked on decent, if unspectacular, PG-13 rated thrillers in the past. Total Recall also sounds like it could boast some fairly interesting philosophical subject matter (touching on the nature of identity and memory) and possibly contain some thought-provoking contemporary geopolitical overtones.
So, all in the all, most of the ingredients necessary for this to be an exciting and intelligent sci-fi blockbuster are present – and the writing/directing talent involved seem to compliment (rather than overlap with) one another fairly well. Whether or not Total Recall will end up more (or less) the sum of its parts is another matter.
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Total Recall is slated for theatrical release in the U.S. on August 3rd, 2012.
Source: Coming Soon
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Why are they remaking this already? Why all these remakes? Is the best that hollywood can come up with? No offense, all the actors are favorites, but why?
I agree with you, Scruffy Nerfherder.
Why is Hollywood remaking 80′s classic movies when the studios can do a novel or video game movie adaptions.
I too don’t like remakes.
Let’s hope the studio don’t remake The Gonnies because that movie reminds me of my childhood days.
I just cant wait until Back to the Future is remade. Set it to current times, have the protagonist travel back to the 80′s. And what future technology would DOC come back with from the future?
“Why is Hollywood remaking 80′s classic movies”
Hard times and the need to pick up a following with name recognition. Talking about the film name, not the lead actor, although Ferrel looks a little like Ryan Reynolds in that picture above. I’m all for using the familiar framework to introduce the new in the way of story but then having them follow the book closer would be nice too. It almost seems like a film class you take where the story has to fit into a limited era and rating but everything else is up for grabs. Like future icons of the industry are getting trained for bigger future movies…
It’s ripe for a remake. It should be really intense, much darker in tone, no campiness, more straight and really epic. This is a second chance to get it right. This is an opportunity.
I hope the Euromerica and New Shanghai storyline will incorporate elements of current affairs in international relations.
I hope Colin Farrell won’t get kicked in the balls in this. Arnold Schwarzenegger was kicked in the balls three times in the original film.
I hope Colin Farrell gets kicked in the balls repeatedly, not in the movie, just in general.
This is going to be a piss poor movie
PG-13 rating will hurt this film.
agreed.
teenagers dont need to see every single movie.
I dont think any of the ingredients (except Farrell) say much for this film. Editing it down for the kiddies doesnt give me a warm tingly feeling either.
Watering down the content of a successful movie is always a sure sign of failure. Why do I see this being the Bourne Series set in the future or space??
Why not just adapt it for Teletoon if you want material that kids and parents can bond over ?
This is doomed to fail.
From the writer and director of Live Free or Die Hard comes another PG-13 @$@%!% jerk.
The words EPIC FAIL come to mind.
They shouldn’t put Colin Farrell in any more movies, ever, ever again.
That said, this looks like poop.
The films Colin Farrell has done in Belguim {In Bruges} Triage [Ireland-Spanish production about the 1988 Kurdistan War] which he lost 44 lbs. to portray a photo-journalist suffering from PTSD. Maybe the UK writers and film-makers have better scripts than Hollywood. As my old grannie said, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Back in the Golden Age of Film, studios had writers on staff, even F. Scott Fitzgerald worked there at one time. Even Harry Potter’s J.K.Rohling is British. Perhaps they don’t mind original work there!
PG-13? I take it no three boob chick in this one then?
I think I’ve been stuck in pg13 limbo for a long time. I went to see Conan rated 18, while not a great movie upon leaving the show I felt very satisfied seeing a movie catered for adults. Maybe it was just refreshing to see blood and nudity for a change.
We were all teenagers for a short time, but we are adults for a very long time and it seems as though Hollywood is neglegting us.
I’m rambling a bit but I guess my point is when Hollywood tries to cater to the largest possible audience, I feel that it is generally the grown-ups who suffer for it.
I have to agree, the nudity was tastefully done and it wasnt used for shock value. Conan and the other movies that came out in the last month or so are not doing poorly based on the turn out but the economy and bad timing in release date.
i hadnt heard that it got a PG-13 Rating, im disappointed to say the least, Should be a HARD R like verhoeven’s. That being said, I read something that len wiseman said, that they will have a 3 Boob chick in the movie, i dont know how thats gonna work with a PG-13 Rating, but you have to have it, 3 boobs, thats awesome,
there are reasons why so many films of yesteryear are still cherished. Nostalgia aside,the movies had a certain charm & feel to them. Not that they had 2 be the best blockbuster or anything,but that they were constructed just right. I agree that hollywood needs 2 stop remaking everything. It’s really really sad. Especially seeing movie studio executives bastardize many peoples childhood memories,mine included. I am glad that certain films didn’t get sequels or have been remade yet. IE: The golden child,big trouble in little china,gremlins,goonies,eliminators
,the exterminator,people under the stairs,etc. although I cringe at the realization that it is only a matter of time before they destroy these classics like they did ‘nightmare on elm street’,'friday the 13th’,'texas chainsaw massacre’,'the omen’,etc. what hollywood needs 2 do is hire some fresh young talented up & coming writers. Give them a chance 2 conjure up a great story with a cohesive concept,& take chances,instead of making everything ‘gritty’ or in ’3-D’. They should just remaster,& re-release the classics 4 younger audiences. Then make new films,& if they fail at the box office,they can still hold their head up high knowing that they at least tried,& sleep better at night knowing they can live with themselves.
Sometimes great movies needs a remake especially with our advance tech its definitely a must but they must do justice as well!
I couldn’t agree more. I myself love remakes/reboots. Seeing different interpretations is just awesome. Can’t wait!
What’s up with the Storm Troopers in that one pic where they get Colin Ferrit??? Lame.
MAN OF STEEL 2013 !!!
SUPERMAN LIVES !!!!
KNEEL !!!!!