‘Speed 3’: 20th Century Studios Head Steve Asbell Says “We Are Brave Enough” To Make A Threequel

Does cinema need another “Speed” movie?  20th Century Studios head Steve Asbell thinks so, but it needs to be “a great idea and an idea that excites” franchise stars Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.

READ MORE: Keanu Reeves Wants To Team With Sandra Bullock For Another ‘Speed’: “We’d Freakin’ Knock It Out Of The Park”

Asbell teased a potential threequel to the hit ’90s franchise in a new sitdown with THR yesterday, which was flush with all sorts of news about the “Predator” franchise, an “Alien: Romulus” sequel, and more. But the outlet couldn’t help but ask Asbell about the studio’s franchise most in need of an update before the interview ended. So what’s the deal with the “Speed” series right now, and has there been chatter about making a third film?

“Hollywood is brave enough. We are brave enough. We are sitting by the phone,” laughed Asbell, acknowledging that “it is one of those last movies that we haven’t remade.” But Asbell also knows that’s up to Bullock and Reeves to return, and for that a writer needs to cook up a story that makes the actors want reprise their roles. “To really be a reason to come back, it’s got to be a great idea and an idea that excites them,” he continued. “Because that’d be the reason to see it. It’s obviously a really important title for us, but it’s not something we would handle lightly or just try to press them into service. They’d have to be a part of the development of that idea.”

Of course, it’s been almost three decades since the last “Speed” movie; twenty-seven years, to be exact. And Reeves didn’t star in “Speed 2: Cruise Control,” which sees Bullock’s Annie Porter on board a hijacked Caribbean cruise ship. Whereas the 1994 original made about 10x its budget at the box office, the sequel was a notorious flop critically, although it did just okay commercially. Since then, the franchise has remained dormant, with Bullock moving on to become an Oscar-winner and Reeves entering “The Matrix,” becoming “John Wick,” and generally becoming one of the most beloved movie stars of his generation.

Still, despite so much time gone by since “Cruise Control,” Asbell’s comments make it sound like Hollywood wants a “Speed 3.” But with Bullock and Reeves both now 60, is another unrelenting, high-octane thrill ride in the cards for the duo? Reeves is game for it: “we’d freakin’ knock it out of the park,” said about a potential sequel earlier this year. Hey, it’s the movies, so never say never, but out of all of 20th Century’s properties, “Speed” feels like the one in least need of a resurrection. Let’s see an original take on the action film with new stars instead of a tired, unnecessary remake, Mr. Asbell. Bullock and Reeves (and the audience) deserve better, unless of course an absolutely perfect idea comes along.