The 1994 action-packed film Speed, while known for its meticulously choreographed stunts, had one scene that seemed a bit too real for its leading actors.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of this Jan de Bont directed film, stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunited at Beyond Fest on Tuesday. During this event, they shared their experiences and admitted to being “slightly uninformed” about the trajectory of the bus scene.
Reeves nostalgically recalled, as cited by IndieWire, “Remember that day on the bus? When we were smashing through the cars on the street? We were all on the bus, heading towards San Diego or somewhere around. Set against the backdrop of the ocean, we suddenly started hitting cars. The impact was so real that everyone on the bus lost their sanity. There were screams everywhere.”
Bullock humorously mentioned that despite obtaining her Santa Monica bus driver’s license, she never actually drove in the movie. “Maneuvering such a vehicle is not an easy task,” she added.
She continued, “The exciting part was that I was at the front of the bus, but there was someone else driving from the roof at the back. I was just being tossed into whatever Jan [de Bont] wanted me to collide with.”
In Speed, Reeves portrays an LAPD officer, Jack Traven, who is tasked with preventing a city bus from exploding. Assisted by passenger Annie Porter (played by Bullock), they must ensure the bus doesn’t drop below 50 mph to prevent the onboard bomb from detonating. The film also features Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels, Alan Ruck, Joe Morton, and Beth Grant.
Bullock reprised her role in the 1997 sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control, but Reeves did not. Jason Patric was introduced as Annie’s new cop boyfriend, Alex Shaw, who has to regain control of a cruise ship taken over by a deranged passenger, John Geiger (played by Willem Dafoe).
Discussing the prospects of another sequel, Bullock expressed her doubts, “It would demand a lot from everyone involved. I am not sure if the industry is ready or brave enough to take on such a challenge. Perhaps I am mistaken. However, if Jan [de Bont] cannot materialize his vision for the audience, then it’s a failure. I am unsure if we can meet the audience’s expectations.”
FAQs
What is Speed about?
Speed is a 1994 action film where LAPD officer Jack Traven, played by Keanu Reeves, has to prevent a city bus from exploding with the help of passenger Annie Porter, played by Sandra Bullock. The bus has a bomb that will detonate if the vehicle drops below 50 mph.
Who directed Speed?
Speed was directed by Jan de Bont.
Was there a sequel to Speed?
Yes, a sequel titled Speed 2: Cruise Control was released in 1997. Sandra Bullock reprised her role, but Keanu Reeves did not return for the sequel.
Who replaced Keanu Reeves in Speed 2: Cruise Control?
Jason Patric was introduced as Annie’s new cop boyfriend, Alex Shaw, in Speed 2: Cruise Control.
Will there be another sequel to Speed?
While discussing the possibility of another sequel, Sandra Bullock expressed her doubts, stating that it would require a lot from everyone involved and she’s unsure if the industry is ready or brave enough to take on such a challenge.
Credit: deadline.com
