One of Speed’s most iconic scenes was inspired by Die Hard in a unique way.

Keanu Reeves has been a part of many iconic action films since the 90s. He is one of the most committed action heroes who is ready to get dirty and does practical action and stunts. While he is most widely known for starring in The Matrix and John Wick franchises. The 90s was a seminal decade for the actor as he established himself as a bankable lead in films such as Point Break and Speed.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed | 20th Century Fox
The film saw him starring alongside Jeff Daniels and Sandra Bullock. The tension-filled action thriller starts with an intense rescue of a group of office workers trapped in an elevator. Director Jan de Bont based the scene on a terrifying experience of being in the same position while he was shooting Die Hard.

Speed‘s Iconic Elevator Rescue Scene Was Inspired From Real-Life Experience

A certain experience from Bruce Willis’ Die Hard inspired the opening scene in 1994’s Speed | 20th Century Fox
Keanu Reeves, Denis Hopper, Jeff Daniels, and Sandra Bullock starred in Jan de Bont’s 1994 action thriller Speed. The film chronicles the efforts of Reeves’ and Bullock’s character as they try to prevent an explosive-rigged bus (planted by Dennis Hopper) from exploding by keeping its speed above 50mph. The film opens with a daring rescue where the same bomber tries to kill a group of office workers trapped in an elevator.

The sequence is filled with tension and suspense as Reeves’ Jack and Daniels’ Harry attempt to save the people and apprehend the criminal. Director de Bont had previously worked on Bruce Willis‘ action classic Die Hard as the cinematographer of the film. As IGN looks back at Speed and some tidbits about its production, it’s revealed that a real-life experience while shooting Die Hard inspired the rescue scene in Speed.

While filming Die Hard, de Bont faced a similar situation where he got stranded in an elevator with his crew in the Fox Plaza building. The fear and the claustrophobic experience he faced during the time became an inspiration for the opening extended scene in Speed. He envisioned the elevator rescue scene as soon as he got the gig and started visualizing the possibilities of it.

This resulted in a great opening where audiences are immediately hooked on to the terrifying circumstances of the trapped office crew and the attempts to rescue them by the LAPD. The added anxiety of a bomber waiting to bomb the elevator adds to the paranoia and nail-biting tension in the scene.

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock Would Love To Return For Speed 3

Speed 3 would be an exciting project for Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock | 20th Century Fox
Keanu Reeves‘ Speed has become a cult classic and is considered one of the best action films of the 90s. The film has found even more love and appreciation in recent years. While Speed 2 with Bullock bombed, people are clamoring for Reeves and the actress to reunite for Speed 3. In a recent interview on the 50 MPH podcast, the two stars were all on board to star in a third film.

Reeves stated that he’s aware of the siren call regarding the demand for Speed 3 and wants to work with Bullock again before their eyes close. The actor further claimed that he and Bullock would knock it out of the park with the third film. Reeves said,

It does feel like there is a siren call to it like there’s something that wasn’t done, I would love to work with [Bullock] again before our eyes close. I mean, you know — we’d freakin’ knock it out of the park.

1994’s Speed was a big critical and commercial success in that year, grossing $350 million against a $30 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). It would be a delight for fans for both superstars to reunite for a third film and return to their iconic characters Jack and Annie.