Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock recently reflected on their unforgettable experiences while filming the 1994 action classic Speed. As the film celebrates its 30th anniversary, the duo came together with director Jan de Bont at Beyond Fest and reminisced about a particularly chaotic day on set.
Reeves recalled an intense moment when the bus they were filming on began to crash through cars, leaving the cast and crew startled. “Don’t you remember that day on the bus?” Reeves asked. “We were actually hitting cars and everyone on the bus was freaking out—people were screaming.” They had been a bit out of the loop regarding the bus’s maneuvers, making the scene feel all too authentic as it unfolded on the streets near San Diego.
Bullock, who played Annie Porter alongside Reeves’ character Jack Traven, admitted she had obtained a Santa Monica bus driver’s license for the role but never actually drove the bus during filming. “It’s not an easy vehicle to maneuver,” she remarked. The actress explained that while she pretended to take the wheel, a stunt driver ensured the bus navigated its way through the mayhem that director Jan de Bont orchestrated.
In Speed, Reeves stars as a dedicated LAPD officer trying to prevent a bus loaded with passengers from exploding, given the threat of a bomb that would detonate if the speed dropped below 50 mph. The film also featured notable actors such as Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels, and Alan Ruck. While Bullock reprised her role in the sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control, Reeves did not return, with Jason Patric stepping in as Bullock’s new love interest.
Addressing the possibility of another sequel, Bullock expressed her concerns about whether the industry could produce a worthy continuation of the iconic film. “It really would take a lot from everyone involved,” she noted, questioning if they had the bravery to undertake such a project again. “If Jan can’t bring his vision to life for the audience, then what have we done?”
As fans reminisce about Speed, the camaraderie between Reeves and Bullock, paired with their surprising on-set experiences, offers a glimpse into the making of a film that left a lasting impression on its audience.