Keanu Reeves has finally revealed why he turned down a role in the Speed sequel.
The Hollywood actor starred as Jack Tavern, a SWAT officer in the Los Angeles Police Department who has to stop a bomb exploding on a city bus by keeping its speed above 50mph, in the 1994 film.
While he loved working with co-star Sandra Bullock – who returned in 1997 for Speed 2: Cruise Control – Keanu said something stopped him from reprising his role in the hit movie.
Appearing on tonight's BBC ’s Graham Norton Show, Keanu said: “At the time I didn’t respond to the script.
“I really wanted to work with Sandra Bullock. I loved playing Jack Tavern and I loved Speed – but an ocean liner?
“I had nothing against the artists involved, but at that time I had the feeling it just wasn’t right.”
Although he turned down Speed 2, Keanu – who is in a relationship with artist Alexandra Grant – confessed he would love to work with Sandra again in the future.
Describing the 57-year-old actress as a “wonderful artist and person”, he said they shared a “good chemistry”, which has led to rumours they were once more than friends.
The mum-of-two confirmed there was no truth to the rumours but said even if they had dated they would probably still be pals.
“Keanu is friends with every woman he’s dated,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “So maybe we could have survived. I don’t know.
“But we didn’t have to survive anything. We just get to grow up together on parallel roads and tip our hats and meet for dinner and try to work together.”
However, one role the 57-year-old has reprised is Neo in sci-fi series The Matrix, alongside Carrie-Anne Moss who plays Trinity.
The Matrix Resurrections is the fourth instalment in the successful Warner Bros franchise which will hit cinemas on December 22.
The film is directed by Lana Wachowski, who helmed and wrote the previous Matrix movies with her sister Lilly.
Speaking about the highly-anticipated new film, Keanu said: “Hopefully people will enjoy it – it’s very exciting, and it was an extraordinary experience to make it.”
Addressing the question of how his character Neo – who is believed to have died 18 years ago – is still alive in the movie, he said: “I had the same question
“When the director asked me what I thought about doing another Matrix film.
“I said ‘What? That sounds amazing but I’m dead’. She was like, ‘Are you?’ and I said, ‘Do tell!’
“She wrote a beautiful story, and I love playing the character. How I am alive will all be explained.”
• The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, airs on Friday December 10 and is available on BBC iPlayer
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