Mars Not A Destination for ‘Total Recall’ Redo

Two mildly interesting notes about the planned remake of ‘Total Recall’ are coming to light. One is that Colin Farrell ditched David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis for Yet Another Remake he is the lead in. The other is that there is no trip to Mars.

Entertainment Weekly gives us:

Now, getting rid of Mars isn’t quite as crazy as it sounds. Total Recall was very loosely adapted from a Philip K. Dick short novel called “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” which is noticeably Mars-free. So perhaps Re-Recall is aiming to stay truer to the original story? Certainly, Farrell seems like a more typical Philip K. Dick protagonist than Schwarzenegger.

Just one small problem. EW’s statement is slightly misleading, and if that is the spin being put on the remake, then it’s a big red flag for me. While it is true no scenes on Mars take place in the short story, Mars is a big part of the short story in regards to the character of Quail (Quaid). I’m not suggesting in the new film they can’t take that out and put in something else. I am saying the reason for not having Mars in the remake is poorly justified. Is there something wrong with simply saying ‘We don’t want Mars”- as opposed to say that Mars didn’t figure into the original short story when it did?

As for Farrell, he’s a good actor, I like or love him in many a role. But I am getting…well, let’s just say it seems when a remake of a TV series or movie gets a greenlight, there he is. Know what I mean?

What do you think? Get your butt to Mars or not?