Jon Sandys

11th Jan 2024

Speed (1994)

Trivia: The famous line "pop quiz, hotshot" doesn't actually have a definite writer. The original script was by Graham Yost, but Joss Whedon was brought in to rewrite it (unhappily uncredited per WGA rules) and wrote most of the dialogue. He said the line was already in the script, while Yost denies writing it and said it was Whedon's. Most likely it was written by another script doctor, Paul Attanasio, but he doesn't recall writing the line either.

Jon Sandys

11th Jan 2024

Speed (1994)

Trivia: The first bus explosion nearly ended in disaster - the real bus that Jack waves goodbye to turned off while out of shot, then the camera moved around to see the prop bus in its place (towed by a car) that was packed with explosives ready to blow up. But a woman ran onto the set, thinking she'd missed her bus, and hopped aboard, almost missed by the crew as they were at a safe distance. John Frazier, the effect supervisor, spotted her and fortunately stopped the foreman from triggering the blast.

Jon Sandys

11th Jan 2024

Speed (1994)

Trivia: Joss Whedon was brought in to work on the original script, and despite being responsible for about 90% of the film's dialogue, didn't get a writing credit due to WGA rules at the time. He changed Alan Ruck to be more sympathetic, and created the scene after the elevator rescue when the team is celebrating, but all the characters, story beats and action were from the original writer Graham Yost.

Jon Sandys

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