When Speed burst onto the scene, it brought about a significant change in our lives. Our anticipation wasn’t solely focused on Keanu Reeves’ presence; instead, we were eagerly awaiting an adrenaline-fueled joyride. Reeves happened to be the leading man, and it was mind-blowing to see the transformation of his goofy Ted persona into a fierce contender against Dennis Hopper in a life-or-death battle. He flawlessly executed the action sequences with style and confidence. Some of his acting choices were unconventional, and if you caught the film in theaters, they may have elicited laughter.
However, that’s no longer the case. The world has finally caught up to Keanu Reeves and has wholeheartedly embraced his unique charm. When we watch Speed today, all of his choices seem to click perfectly. They work seamlessly because we’ve had the privilege of spending time with him, appreciating his talent and charisma. In truth, those choices worked back in 1994 too—we just weren’t aware of it at the time.
Tom Cruise Could Have Replaced Keanu Reeves in Speed
The role of Jack Traven underwent a series of considerations involving different actors. Initially, Stephen Baldwin was the frontrunner for the part. However, he expressed reservations about the script, finding it filled with too many snappy one-liners reminiscent of John McClane in Die Hard.
During the early stages, other notable actors such as Tom Hanks, Woody Harrelson, Tom Cruise, and Wesley Snipes were also in contention. Nonetheless, Jan De Bont, the director, had recently witnessed Keanu Reeves’ impressive performance in Point Break and noticed a unique quality in the actor that few others recognized at the time—a certain femininity. De Bont believed that Reeves, despite being a convincing romantic lead, would not intimidate the male audience.
De Bont was so adamant about keeping Reeves’ appearance clean-cut that he insisted the actor maintain a police officer’s buzzcut, which was appropriate for such a character. This stance caused some dissatisfaction within the studio, which threatened to halt production unless Reeves allowed his hair to grow out. Unyielding, De Bont stood his ground, arguing that the buzzcut best represented a by-the-book cop, far more accurately than any other hairstyle outside the regulations.
Speed Proved To Be A Turning Point In Keanu Reeves’ Career
It’s difficult to recall a time when Keanu Reeves wasn’t an adored figure in popular culture. In recent times, he has acquired a somewhat mythical status. Everything he does seems to resonate with us, guaranteeing a good time whenever he graces the screen. However, this wasn’t always the case. For a long while, we could only associate him with the role of Ted “Theodore” Logan from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
While the John Wick movies solidified his iconic status, the transformation began earlier in Reeves’ illustrious career. The seeds of the legend he would ultimately become can be traced back to Speed. In the film, Reeves portrays Jack Traven, a police officer thrust into an absurd predicament. He finds himself aboard a bus teeming with passengers, where the speed must be maintained above 50 mph to prevent a bomb from detonating.
Reeves had previously dabbled in action-oriented roles, most notably as Johnny Utah in the 1991 adventure, Point Break. Over time, that movie has attained legendary status, but for some of us, it became legendary only in retrospect. Prior to Speed, Reeves had appeared in diverse films such as My Private Idaho, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing. Many felt he seemed out of place in those movies, except perhaps in My Private Idaho. Additionally, he reprised his role as Ted in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, which reinforced the notion of where he belonged.
However, when Speed emerged, everything changed. We didn’t go to watch Reeves; instead, we sought an action-packed thrill ride. Reeves simply happened to be the star, and the astonishing revelation that the seemingly airheaded Ted was now facing off against Dennis Hopper in a fight to the death was mind-boggling. Yet, he flawlessly executed the action sequences, displaying remarkable skill. Admittedly, some of his acting choices were unconventional, which drew laughter at the time.
But that’s no longer the case. The world has finally caught up to Keanu Reeves and has wholeheartedly fallen in love with his unique style. When we revisit Speed today, all of his choices seem to click seamlessly. They work because we have spent time with him, appreciating his talent and charisma. In truth, those choices worked even back in 1994—we just weren’t aware of it at the time.
Source: What Culture
