The screening united the stars in a Q&A with “Speed” director Jan de Bont as part of Beyond Fest 2024. The event ends this week after a two-week spree of screenings and guest appearances, among them Al Pacino, Kyle MacLachlan, Sarah Paulson and Ron Perlman.
At the sold-out Egyptian, delighted “Speed” fans and industry types cheered as Reeves, playing LAPD SWAT officer Jack Traven, and Bullock as “wildcat” Annie, foil a psychotic extortionist, played by a brilliantly deranged Dennis Hopper, who holds the city to ransom with bomb plants. In particular, one is located on a Santa Monica city bus: if the bus slows below 50 miles per hour it’ll explode.
When asked if they knew what they had in this much-loved film back then, Reeves replied: “We knew we were doing something wacky.”
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunite for Speed’s 30th anniversary. Jared Cowan for Beyond Fest
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunite for Speed’s 30th anniversary with director Jan de Bont. Jared Cowan for Beyond Fest
Bullock, a relative unknown at the time, chimed in, “I was just happy to be along. I was new to the game.” She later added: “I knew it was real when we were smashing into things.”
Bullock, who drives the bomb-rigged bus in the film, quipped, “You needed a woman behind the wheel to make it successful.”
She also self-effacingly deferred to Reeves’ then greater star power, saying that if an accident occurred during the action scenes the news headlines would have read, “Actor dies during stunt in Keanu Reeves movie.”
The co-stars played Jack and Annie in the 1994 smash hit. Jared Cowan for Beyond Fest Kris Tapley, Jan de Bont, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. Jared Cowan for Beyond Fest
As for the prop the “Gravity” actress remembers most? “A folding chair and a paper plate,” Bullock, 60, mused, which was used for the steering wheel.
Reeves, 60, took a while to fully join in on the chat on Tuesday, causing Bullock to joke, “This is what it was like working with Keanu. He just wouldn’t shut up!”
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in 1994’s “Speed.” 20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Reeves eventually revved up, recalling how de Bont used a lot of cameras. “There was one for Sandra’s hands, one for when I turn; cameras here and cameras down there.”
“There were no cameras down there,” laughed Bullock, revealing that Annie’s mini dress would blow up over her head in action scenes.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock have remained close since starring in the thriller together. Jared Cowan for Beyond Fest “Speed” also starred Jeff Daniels and Dennis Hopper. 20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
She quipped: “Keanu wasn’t just doing stunts, he was also keeping my integrity, and keeping things that don’t need to be seen hidden.”
As for the late Hopper, Reeves called him “brilliant, charming” and “committed.”
“And a little nuts, too,” added de Bont.
“Yeah, yeah man. But a total f—ing pro,” retorted Reeves.
Before the Q&A wrapped, Reeves insisted, “Wait, we gotta talk about Jeff Daniels.”
“I was 30, a whippersnapper. Jeff, it was just so cool to see his approach. His sense of humor,” he said of the “Newsroom” actor, who played Jack’s SWAT partner Harry.
“Speed” was a big career boost for all. For Reeves, it laid the groundwork for his ongoing action adventure franchise “John Wick” and Bullock went on to win an Oscar for “The Blind Side” in 2010.
But Kris Tapley, host of the “Speed” podcast “50 Miles Per hour,” summed up the “Speed” effect best in his earlier introduction. Simply, the movie “turned Reeves into an action hero and Bullock transformed into a movie star, right there in this film.”
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
