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SPEED’s blockbuster success made Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock superstars, but neither one was the first choice for their roles.

The 1994 action thriller, which the media nicknamed DIE HARD ON A BUS, was directed by Jan de Bont from an original screenplay by Graham Yost. It was the first feature for de Bont, who later directed TWISTER (1996) and THE HAUNTING (1999). For Yost, it was his first feature screenplay and was followed quickly by scripts for John Woo’s BROKEN ARROW (1996) & de Bont’s SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL (1997).

Paramount optioned Yost’s screenplay in 1992 when it was called MINIMUM SPEED. The studio put it in turnaround, thinking moviegoers wouldn’t sit through a two hour bus ride. Yost’s title related to the bus having to stay over a minimum speed of 20 mph to avoid triggering an onboard bomb. Increasing that speed to a more action thriller level of 50 mph came later from a friend’s good suggestion to Yost.

After Paramount dropped the project, Yost added some non-bus action scenes and pitched his retitled script SPEED to 20th Century-Fox, which gave it a green light. Jeff Speakman, who’d starred in Paramount’s 1991 action crime drama THE PERFECT WEAPON, was originally going to star in SPEED, but was dropped when 20th took over.

John McTiernan, who directed DIE HARD (1988) for 20th, was asked to direct SPEED, but passed because he felt it was a DIE HARD retread. He recommended that 20th hire de Bont, who was his cinematographer on DIE HARD as well as THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990).

20th’s first choice to play L.A. SWAT officer Jack Traven was Stephen Baldwin, who said no because the role seemed too much like Bruce Willis’ cop in DIE HARD. Others considered for Jack included Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Woody Harrelson & Wesley Snipes. Reeves was hired after de Bont saw him in 20th’s 1991 hit action crime thriller POINT BREAK.

Reeves also didn’t want to do SPEED because of its similarities to DIE HARD, but changed his mind when de Bont hired Joss Whedon to work on the script. Whedon, who’d written the buzzy 1992 action comedy BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, later wrote many Marvel movies, including THE AVENGERS (2012), which he also directed.

Bullock’s bus driving character Annie was originally written as an African American paramedic. Halle Berry was offered that role, but passed. Then Annie was turned into a driver’s ed teacher as comic relief for Jack. Finally, she became Jack’s sidekick and love interest. Meryl Streep and Kim Basinger both passed on Annie. Then Bullock came in to read with Reeves and the rest is history.

SPEED, which 20th made for $30M, opened June 10, 1994 and brought back $350.4M worldwide.