Last night, director Jan de Bont joined stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock at BeyondFest’s 30th-anniversary screening of “Speed” — one of the very best action movies of the ‘90s.
During the panel, Bullock made it quite clear that she’d love to make “Speed 3,” and went as far as daring Hollywood to greenlight it because she believes they’re “not brave enough” to do so (via THR).
I don’t know if we’re in an industry anymore that’s willing to tolerate it and be brave enough to do it. Maybe I could be wrong. … If Jan can’t make [what’s in his brain] for the audience, then he’s failed it felt like. I don’t know what we could do that would be good enough for the audience.
It was only back in May, during an interview on the “50 MPH” podcast, that Reeves and Bullock expressed interest in making “Speed 3”: “I mean, you know — we’d freakin’ knock it out of the park,” Reeves said.
“Speed” was not only a commercial success, but it was a damn fine film, driven by the wonderful on-screen chemistry between Reeves and Bullock. The actress returned for the 1997 sequel “Speed 2: Cruise Control,” which was a much-mocked box office and critical disaster. The franchise was dead after that one.
Bullock told TooFab in 2022 that “I’m still embarrassed I was in it […] “That’s one I wished I hadn’t done and no fans came around that I know of, except for you,” Bullock added at the time.
Reeves, wisely. turned down “Speed 2” because of the screenplay, telling Graham Norton in 2021: “At the time, I didn’t respond to the script. I really wanted to work with Sandra Bullock, I loved playing Jack Traven, and I loved ‘Speed,’ but an ocean liner? I had nothing against the artists involved, but at that time I had the feeling it just wasn’t right,”
Jason Patric stepped in to replace Reeves in the male lead role.
I wouldn’t mind this sequel. It’s a franchise that has room for another entry. The real question is what mode of transportation would be used for the third one? Maybe they could go back to the original formula, a bus.
As for de Bont, 80, he’s only directed five films in his career, including “Speed” and “Twister.” The problem is that the other three were “Speed 2: Cruise Control,” “The Haunting” and his last one, “Lara Croft: Cradle of Life.” He hasn’t helmed a film in over 20 years.