Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves might be gearing up for a return to Speed, according to 20th Century Studios head Steve Asbell.
Just weeks after Bullock expressed doubts about Hollywood being ‘brave enough’ to take on a sequel to the 1994 action hit, Asbell hinted that a follow-up could be in the works.
‘Hollywood is brave enough. We are brave enough. We’re sitting by the phone,’ Asbell teased during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, touching on future projects.
‘It is one of those last movies that we haven’t remade. And to really be a reason to come back, it’s got to be a great idea and an idea that excites (Bullock and Reeves). Because that’d be the reason to see it.’
According to Asbell, the studio wouldn’t move forward without the stars’ involvement and approval.
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves might be gearing up for a return to Speed, according to 20th Century Studios head Steve Asbell; (pictured October 2024)
Just weeks after Bullock expressed doubts about Hollywood being ‘brave enough’ to take on a sequel to the 1994 action hit, Asbell hinted that a follow-up could be in the works
‘It’s not something we would handle lightly or just try to press them into service. They’d have to be a part of the development of that idea.’
At the 30th anniversary screening of Speed a few weeks ago, Sandra joked that a new sequel would be a ‘geriatric version.’
‘It won’t be fast,’ she quipped, before adding, ‘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. I don’t know what we could do that would be good enough for the audience.’
The Oscar winner first appeared on screen with Reeves in 1994’s Speed, and then again for the 2006 romantic drama The Lake House.
Reeves opted out of the 1997 sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control, leaving Bullock to headline the ill-fated film with Jason Patric.
It flopped at the box office and was widely panned as one of the worst sequels ever made.
Though Reeves passed on Speed 2 due to issues with the script, he’s reportedly open to teaming up with Bullock for a potential third installment in the franchise.
The 59-year-old actor told the 50 MPH podcast: ‘I mean, you know – we’d freakin’ knock it out of the park.’
The Matrix star claimed there is ‘siren call’ attracting him to another Speed film and that he’s desperate to work with Sandra again after they last teamed up for The Lake House.
Reeves previously admitted that he declined the chance to reprise his part as LAPD bomb disposal officer Jack Traven in Speed 2 as he ‘didn’t respond’ to the ocean-set story.
Speaking on The Graham Norton Show in 2021, he recalled: ‘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?’
He added, ‘I had nothing against the artists involved, but at the time I had the feeling it just wasn’t right.’
Written by Graham Yost and directed by Jan de Bont, Speed stars Keanu as LAPD detective Jack Traven, who must save passengers on a bus rigged to explode if it drops below 50 mph by madman Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper).
‘Hollywood is brave enough. We are brave enough. We’re sitting by the phone,’ Asbell teased during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter , touching on future projects
‘It is one of those last movies that we haven’t remade. And to really be a reason to come back, it’s got to be a great idea and an idea that excites (Bullock and Reeves). Because that’d be the reason to see it’
‘It’s not something we would handle lightly or just try to press them into service. They’d have to be a part of the development of that idea,’ Asbell added; (pictured 2006)
After the driver is shot, Sandra’s character, Annie Porter, an unsuspecting passenger, takes the wheel to help manage the crisis.
Speed was a major box office hit, grossing over $350 million worldwide on a budget of around $30 million.
The film received critical acclaim for its high-octane action and suspense, earning a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
It also won two Academy Awards, for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, solidifying its place as a 90s action classic.
