In a nostalgic reunion, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock came together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their iconic film “Speed” at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The event, held on Tuesday, featured a special screening followed by a Q&A session with the film’s director, Jan de Bont, as part of Beyond Fest 2024. The festival, which concludes this week, has seen a series of screenings and guest appearances, including stars like Al Pacino, Kyle MacLachlan, Sarah Paulson, and Ron Perlman.
At the sold-out event, fans and industry insiders alike were thrilled to see Reeves, who played LAPD SWAT officer Jack Traven, and Bullock, as the spirited Annie, thwart a deranged extortionist, portrayed by the late Dennis Hopper. The film’s memorable plot involves a bomb planted on a Santa Monica city bus; if the bus slows below 50 miles per hour, it will explode.
Reflecting on the film’s impact, Reeves admitted, “We knew we were doing something wacky.” Bullock, who was relatively new to the industry at the time, added, “I was just happy to be a part of it. I was new to the game.” She humorously noted, “I knew it was real when we were smashing into things.” Bullock, who drove the bomb-rigged bus, joked, “You needed a woman behind the wheel to make it successful.” She also playfully acknowledged Reeves’ then-greater fame, saying that if an accident had occurred during the action scenes, the headlines would have read, “Actor dies during stunt in Keanu Reeves movie.”
Bullock fondly remembered the film’s props, particularly “a folding chair and a paper plate” used for the steering wheel. Reeves took a moment to join the conversation, prompting Bullock to joke, “This is what it was like working with Keanu. He just wouldn’t shut up!” Reeves eventually chimed in, recalling how de Bont used multiple cameras, including one focused on Bullock’s hands and another for his own turns.
Bullock humorously revealed that her character’s mini dress would often blow up during action scenes, adding, “Keanu wasn’t just doing stunts; he was also keeping my integrity intact.” Reeves described Hopper as “brilliant, charming,” and “committed,” with de Bont adding, “And a little nuts, too.” Reeves agreed, “Yeah, yeah man. But a total f—ing pro.” Before the Q&A concluded, Reeves insisted on mentioning Jeff Daniels, saying, “I was 30, a whippersnapper. Jeff, it was just so cool to see his approach. His sense of humor.”
“Speed” significantly boosted the careers of both Reeves and Bullock. For Reeves, it paved the way for his action-adventure franchise “John Wick,” while Bullock went on to win an Oscar for “The Blind Side” in 2010. Kris Tapley, host of the “Speed” podcast “50 Miles Per hour,” aptly summarized the film’s impact, stating that it “turned Reeves into an action hero and Bullock into a movie star.”
