In the realm of action-packed cinema, "Speed" stands as one of Keanu Reeves' shining moments. This 1994 thriller masterfully navigated a far-fetched premise with a perfect blend of gravity and humour. Recently, as part of a captivating podcast titled "50 MPH," which delves into the making of the film, director Jan de Bont, alongside numerous cast and crew members, shared their insights and experiences from the production.
One notable revelation came from none other than Joss Whedon, the acclaimed writer and director best known for "The Avengers." Whedon, who had largely stayed out of the public eye due to on-set misconduct allegations, finally surfaced to recount his uncredited involvement in fine-tuning the "Speed" script. He had been brought in as a last-minute script doctor, and while some claim he penned roughly 90 per cent of the final dialogue, a WGA arbitration denied him credit. The film's original writer, Graham Yost, who had toiled on the project for years, retained sole credit for conceiving the film's characters, concept, and major plot points.
During this podcast segment, Whedon shed light on a pivotal moment when Keanu Reeves, who portrayed the heroic Los Angeles SWAT officer tasked with saving a bus full of passengers from a mad bomber, offered a simple yet profound suggestion. Reeves had spent time with real SWAT officers as part of his role preparation and noted their unfailingly polite demeanour. According to Whedon, Reeves emphasized that these officers addressed everyone as "sir" or "ma'am." This insight proved transformative for Whedon, providing him with a newfound understanding of the character. He envisioned the officer not as a brash hotshot but as a lateral thinker who approached situations unconventionally but effectively. Reeves also expressed his reluctance to resort to using his gun, a sentiment Whedon shared but acknowledged the studio's insistence on the action.
The iconic line, "Pop quiz, hot shot!" which became synonymous with the film, is often attributed to Whedon. However, both Whedon and Yost disclaimed their authorship. It turns out that none of the film's script contributors took credit for this memorable line. Kris Tapley, the podcast's host, traced it back to another script doctor on the project, Paul Attanasio, despite Attanasio himself being unable to recall its origin.
The aftermath of Whedon's unsuccessful quest for credit led to a strained encounter between him and Yost at the film's premiere. Yost recalled feeling unfairly blamed by Whedon, who was frustrated by the lack of recognition. Yost defended his position, explaining that the Writers Guild of America's rules prevented the addition of "additional dialogue" credits. Whedon, however, asserted that he would have acted differently in a similar situation, referencing his subsequent work on "Toy Story," where he advocated for key animators to receive screenplay credits.
Despite his ordeal with "Speed," Whedon's career took a tumultuous turn. He faced a slew of misconduct allegations spanning from 2020 to 2022, including verbal abuse allegations dating back to his time as the showrunner for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in the 1990s and extending to his directorial role in 2017's "Justice League." He also encountered conflicts with several female actors, including Gal Gadot, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Ray Fisher.
In a deep-dive investigation by New York magazine, Whedon admitted to his lack of civility during his tenure as a showrunner but denied allegations of threats or misconstrued comments. He attributed his behaviour to his youth and the challenges of managing a young cast. Despite the controversies, Whedon maintained that he was among the more affable showrunners in the industry.
