Keanu Reeves; Joss Whedon.Photo:Steve Jennings/Getty; Earl Gibson III/Getty
Steve Jennings/Getty; Earl Gibson III/Getty
One small change to theSpeedscript from starKeanu Reevesmight’ve made all the difference in the believability of his character.
In a conversation withThe Hollywood Reporter,Joss Whedon— who was brought in to enhance the movie’s dialogue but was uncredited, according to the outlet — said Reeves, 58, made a suggestion that was borne out of his own research for his character, Officer Jack Traven.
Recalling the “unfailingly polite” demeanor from the “SWAT guys” Reeves hung out with during his research for the role, Whedon, 59, added, “[He said that] they’re only about defusing the situation; they call everybody ‘sir or ‘ma’am.’ "
“It was likeclick— that was it. I understand this character now,” he added.
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Keanu Reeves inSpeed(1994).Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection
Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection
Whedon said that his “take on” Reeves' character in the 1994 action flick was that “he wasn’t a hot shot” but “a lateral thinker,” who “was going to do what felt right and have an odd approach to it, but generally speaking, it would work out.”
“That ‘sir or ma’am’ gave me so much, because bluster [in action-movie heroes] was the order of the day and this was the opposite,” the filmmaker explained.
According to Whedon, Reeves also had another desire for his character — but it was shot down.
“He also said, ‘I don’t want to pull my gun.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t want you to either, but you kind of have to,” Whedon toldTHR. “[The studio is] not going to let you not pull your gun.’ "
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock inSpeed(1994).Richard Foreman/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Richard Foreman/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
During a December 2021 appearance onThe Graham Norton Show, Reeves explained why after starring inSpeedhedidn’t sign on for its sequel, for which costarSandra Bullockdid return.
“At the time I didn’t respond to the script,” the actor said, perCNN. “I really wanted to work with Sandra Bullock, I loved playing Jack Traven, and I lovedSpeed, but an ocean liner?”
“I had nothing against the artists involved, but at that time I had the feeling it just wasn’t right,” Reeves added.
source: people.com
