Neither Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, or Jan de Bont were the initial choice for the iconic Speed.
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are among the most iconic pairings of all time. Having starred together in 1994’s Speed, the two have been a fan favorite casting, with many wanting to see more of them on-screen. Unfortunately, such a miracle is yet to happen, for after starring in The Lake House (which hardly featured them together), they have never managed to work together.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock (in The Lake House)
Despite stating countless times that they would love to reunite on-screen, a potential Speed 3 has never happened. And if it were to ever take place, it would be even more iconic since Bullock wasn’t even the first or second choice for the role of Annie.
Sandra Bullock Wasn’t The First Choice for Speed
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves will probably go down in history for their epic on-screen chemistry and friendship, which resulted from their co-starring in Speed. The two actors have since remained great friends and fans have been eagerly awaiting to see them share the screen once again.
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To honor the coming 30th anniversary of their iconic film, Reeves and Bullock recently made an appearance on the 50 MPH podcast. While they teased them working together in a potential Speed 3, Bullock also revealed how she wasn’t the first choice for the role of Annie Porter.
“! It was all yes. But I also wasn’t the first choice. I wasn’t the second choice. I don’t think I was the third choice. But I was a choice, and I was so excited and happy to be there.”
And the actress isn’t wrong, for screenwriter Graham Yost revealed how Bullock wasn’t even the first or second choice to Entertainment Weekly. The role was initially written for an African-American and was offered to Halle Berry. But the actress declined and the script was re-written with Ellen DeGeneres in mind.
Even Meryl Streep, Kim Basinger (via UPROXX), and Anne Heche (via The Read Daytime) were offered the role but they all declined. And it wasn’t until director Jan de Bont (who unsurprisingly wasn’t the first choice either) fought with the studio executives that Bullock was given the role and the iconic pairing of Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves was made possible.
Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven in Speed
While it is shocking to imagine anyone else starring as Annie in Speed, it is equally shocking to know that Keanu Reeves was never the first choice for the role of Jack Traven. Yet, that is what was going to happen for the production went through a plethora of actors before locking Reeves for the role.
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Initially, it was Jess Speakman who was attached to the project but was dropped when 20th-century Fox brought it (via Scott Adkins). Fox then wanted to cast Stephen Baldwin as the lead character (via Esquire), but the actor declined.
Screenwriter Graham Yost in an interview with Entertainment Weekly remarked how they later went on to contact all the Toms— Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and also Wesley Snipes, and Woody Harrelson, but nothing worked out. It wasn’t until somebody’s kid at the studio remarked how hot Keanu Reeves was that they started considering him. And it was ultimately Reeves’ looks and his starring in Point Break that ultimately secured him the role.
As shocking as these details are to know now, fans are forever grateful for how things turned out. If a Speed 3 was to happen today, it would not only be iconic but a real miracle since neither the lead actress, actor, or director was the initial choice for the movie.
Speed can be streamed on Hulu.
