“It would’ve been a better movie”: Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves’ $350M Breakout Film Was Nearly Scrapped by Paramount Exec to Boost Eddie Murphy’s $700M Franchise

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are among the iconic on-screen stars who got their breakthrough by starring in the action film, Speed. Since then, the duo have not only built a great bond but also risen to the top whether it be their professional growth or the stardom they enjoy due to their impeccable work.

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However, their breakthrough film could have been the sequel to Eddie Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop film series. But, Paramount Pictures quickly scrapped the idea.

Keanu Reeves’s Speed Was Almost Made The Part of The Beverly Hills Cop Franchise

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Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock got starred in the 1994 film, Speed which entirely changed their career. However, it was almost planned to be made as a sequel to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise.

In a recent episode on the 50 MPH Podcast, former Paramount Vice President of Production Don Granger and Speed producer Mark Gordon spoke about the development of the hit film. During a segment, Granger recalled pitching the film to become a part of the Beverly Hills Cop when other executives were unsure whether it would entice the viewers or not.

“I really wanted to try to mount the movie, and my last-ditch effort was I pitched it at our chairman’s lunch as a possible script for Beverly Hills Cop 3.”

The former exec continued,

“I got about 15 minutes of traction before it was dismissed because that was back when the mandate was to find a Beverly Hills Cop 3, so I was like, ‘Let’s put Axel Foley on the bus.’ It was a Hail Mary, man. I might maintain it was a better movie, it would have been a better movie than ultimately what we got for Beverly Hills Cop 3, but that was my final Hail Mary.”

Though he wanted to create a masterpiece, the studio eventually turned it down. As for the Eddie Murphy-led franchise, the third sequel was critically panned and was unable to catch fans’ attention.

Speed Eventually Got Under 20th Century Fox

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After the film got out of Paramount, the studio eventually regretted it and did its best to get its distribution rights. Gordan shared in the same episode about how the studio giant had their eyes stuck on it and even offered a whopping sum to get it back.

“Paramount tried to get me to bring it back to them. And it was a really difficult decision because they were offering me a lot more money, and money that was guaranteed.”

The film script was sold to 20th Century Fox where the film was eventually given a green light. The project proved its potential by grossing $350.4 worldwide. It also brought the duo much prominence meanwhile Beverly Hills 3 was a failure in critics’ eyes.

Speed and Beverly Hills 3 can be streamed via Amazon Prime.

Source: 50 MPH Podcast