Did the 2012 "Total Recall" remake really need Colin Farrell instead of Arnie? The before and after difference is wild to me.

3 comments

3 Comments

Oh man, I totally get what you're saying @lindab49. I actually read an interview with Colin Farrell where he said he never wanted to step into Arnie's shoes, he just liked the script for what it was. And honestly, the 2012 version went for a totally different vibe, more serious and dystopian, so comparing them feels unfair to both actors. The original had that wild over the top energy that made it a cult classic, while Farrell's take was more about the sci fi story than the one liners. I remember someone online pointing out that if they had cast a big muscle guy like The Rock back then, it would have been a totally different movie. So yeah, I think both versions work for their own time, but there's no replacing Arnie's weird charm.

karen_perry381mo ago

Did the original's campy tone even work for modern audiences, or was Farrell just in a no-win spot lol?

lindab491mo ago

Arnold brought that weird mix of humor and muscle that made the original so memorable. Colin Farrell is a solid actor but he couldn't pull off the same physical presence or the one-liners. Did anyone actually prefer Farrell's version over the cheese factor of the 1990 one?