Billy Baldwin Was Offered Keanu Reeves' Role in "Speed" Five Times, and Turned It Down Every Time

Billy Baldwin says he turned down the lead role in "Speed" five separate times before it went to Keanu Reeves, a decision he now considers "a mistake."

One of Billy Baldwin’s greatest career regrets was turning down the chance to star in one of the biggest action movies of the 1990s.

Billy Baldwin attending the event honoring songwriter and producer Glen Ballard with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 11, 2024 | Source: Getty Images

During his interview on the “Lisa Guerrero Unleashed” podcast, Baldwin revealed he was offered the lead role in the 1994 hit, "Speed," multiple times before it went to Keanu Reeves. "I was offered the movie Speed like five times," he said.

Baldwin recalled the final offer even involved a private catered lunch with the studio’s chairman in his office, but he knew going into that lunch meeting that he was still going to say no. After turning down the offer for the last time, he said he never worked with the studio again after that.

In hindsight, Baldwin admitted, "It was a mistake that I didn't do it. I look back and I should have done it."

Billy Baldwin during The 8th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards in 1993 | Source: Getty Images

Part of Baldwin’s reason for turning down “Speed” was the director, Jan de Bont, who was the cinematographer in his previous film, “Flatliners.” At the time, Baldwin didn't think de Bont knew how to direct actors. Looking back, he admits that didn't end up mattering much for a movie people described as "Die Hard on a bus."

With Baldwin out of the picture, Reeves got the part instead, which ended up catapulting him to stardom. According to Baldwin, Reeves was paid around $800,000 for “Speed,” but after it became a hit, Reeves' asking price reportedly jumped to as much as $8-9 million almost overnight.

Despite missing out, Baldwin has nothing but respect for how it turned out. "Super cool career and super cool nice person," he said of Reeves. "I'd love to work with him."

A sequel, "Speed 2: Cruise Control," followed “Speed” in 1997, without Reeves, and it got bad reviews.. But nearly 30 years after the original, both Reeves and Bullock have said they'd be open to a third installment.

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves during the Los Angeles premiere of "Speed" in 1994 | Source: Getty Images