20 Things You Didn't Know About Speed
9. Keanu's Training Was Physical And Emotional
Keanu Reeves has come a long way in his career, from the stoner of Bill and Ted to the action hero of the Matrix and John Wick franchises. Say what you will about some of the less-than-stellar performances, he has remained dedicated to the craft. After taking on the role of Jack Traven, Reeves took what he had learned from his experiences observing LAPD officers and their concern for human life while at the same time physically staying in shape for two months of training at GOLD'S Gym.
It wasn't just the physical effort that Reeves put forth, but Jack also allowed him to work through his own emotional issues. During production, fellow actor and best friend River Phoenix collapsed on October 30th, 1993, never to wake up. De Bont was understanding, immediately altering the shooting schedule so Reeves could take some time to grieve. But as the days wore on, Reeves invested himself further and deeper into the project (in which his character also loses his best friend).
He wound up performing around 90% of his own stunts, including the dangerous jump from a speeding Jaguar into an open bus, something of which De Bont disapproved. In the heat of the moment, Reeves shattered the pane of glass on the bus accidentally, which they kept in the finished film.