Hollywood is a fickle place, and casting choices can make or break a film. That’s what almost happened to Total Recall. However, the film’s success spoke for itself. Released in 1990, it raked in over $260 million worldwide and won a special effects Oscar.
Even today, more than thirty years later, Total Recall remains a cult classic. It inspired many other films and cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger’s status as an action movie legend.
It’s hard to imagine anyone but Arnie playing the dual role of Douglas Quaid and Carl Hauser in this mind-bending 1990 sci-fi blockbuster. But, before he stepped into the red boots of a construction worker, the iconic role almost went to a different Hollywood action hero.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Blockbuster Role Nearly Cast Another Hollywood Action Icon
Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to star in the science fiction movie Total Recall but had to spend a long time convincing the producer. Back in the 1980s, producer Dino De Laurentiis, known for films like Conan the Barbarian, owned the rights to the story Total Recall is based on.
Laurentiis actually saw Schwarzenegger as a better fit for roles like the mighty Conan. But for Total Recall, he apparently preferred actor Jeff Bridges. Schwarzy didn’t give up, though (and as we know, he eventually landed the lead role in the 1990 sci-fi hit).
Since the producer wasn’t sold on Schwarzenegger for the film, the actor went on to make other movies like Red Heat and Twins in 1988. In the meantime, the production company tried to move forward with the film without him.
They then considered Patrick Swayze for the lead role and even thought about directors like Bruce Beresford and David Cronenberg. It’s interesting to imagine how different the movie would have been with them!
But things took a turn for Total Recall when the production company went bankrupt. This happened in 1988, right when they were already building sets in Australia and already spent $8 million (per Slash Film) on pre-production. The crew was laid off, and then what? The script was sent back out to find a new home.
The Total Recall Role was Meant to be For Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger told The Ringer, “As soon as I read that, I said to myself … He owns ‘Total Recall’.” This turn of events proved to be a golden opportunity for Schwarzenegger.
The star convinced rival company Carolco to buy the script. This gave the Austrian Oak a lot of control. He hired the director of RoboCop to make the movie, and together, they changed the main character from an accountant to a construction worker — a better fit for his action hero image.
If the original producer had been open to this idea, the movie might have been made sooner. But thanks to the switch, the former Governator got to make the film he wanted, and it paved the way for him to take on more action roles in the future.
Watch Total Recall on Prime Video!
Frequently asked questions
Who almost played Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in Total Recall?
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger secured the lead role in Total Recall, producer Dino De Laurentiis reportedly preferred actor Jeff Bridges for the part. When the production stalled, the project was later attached to Patrick Swayze, with directors Bruce Beresford and David Cronenberg also considered. Schwarzenegger eventually landed the role after De Laurentiis’s company collapsed and a new studio picked up the script.
What happened to the original production of Total Recall before Schwarzenegger got the role?
In 1988, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group filed for bankruptcy while Total Recall was already in pre-production, with sets being built in Australia and roughly $8 million already spent. The crew was laid off and the script went back on the market. Schwarzenegger then convinced rival studio Carolco to acquire it, which gave him greater creative control over the film.
How successful was Total Recall at the box office, and did it win any awards?
Total Recall, directed by Paul Verhoeven and released in 1990, grossed over $260 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of that year. It also won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. More than three decades later, the film is still regarded as a cult classic and helped cement Schwarzenegger’s status as an action movie icon.
