‘Speed’ stars, director remember Dennis Hopper: ‘brilliant,’ ‘a little nuts’

Director Jan de Bont and his Speed stars remembered the late, great Dennis Hopper at a special 30th anniversary film screening and Q&A in Hollywood earlier this week.

Hopper, who died in May 2010 at the age of 74 from prostate cancer, played the film’s antagonist Howard Payne, a retired bomb squad officer who goes toe-to-toe with Keanu Reeves’ Los Angeles police officer Jack Traven.

Reeves remembered the Hollywood icon as “so committed,” calling him “brilliant” and “so charismatic” before de Bont cut him off and added, “He was also a little nuts, too.”

It was very much a compliment: “But in a good way,” the director clarified.

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly’s free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

“Yeah, man,” Reeves said in response. “But he’s a total f—ing pro. We had some ridiculous dialogue and it was just awesome.”

The John Wick actor then turned to costar Sandra Bullock, who played the spunky passenger-turned-driver Annie, and said, “You worked with the Hopper, too.”

“I did, yes,” she said. “I was surprised at how — I don’t like this word, but — normal he was. I mean, he might’ve been weird to you guys, but he was very sweet to me.” Bullock remembered Hopper — who was also an artist and art collector — as someone who “loved talking about” and “collecting art.” 

“He was a man that couldn’t get enough,” she added. “Like life was happening too fast, and he just wanted more and more from it. I was in the company of such extraordinary people at such an early time in my career. And I got everything under one umbrella. He was very normal and sweet.” But then again, “he was threatening to blow me up,” Bullock quipped, theorizing that may be why Hopper was so respectful.

In the action thriller, Hopper’s Howard straps Bullock’s Annie with explosives and holds her hostage in a subway train before he’s ultimately wiped out by Reeves’ Jack.

The 1994 blockbuster hit follows Reeves’ Los Angeles police officer as he races against the clock to prevent a city bus full of passengers, including Bullock’s Annie, from blowing up after it’s rigged with a bomb by Hopper’s vengeful extortionist. Staged as part of this year’s Beyond Fest, the reunion between Reeves, Bullock, and de Bont marked the first time the trio have shared the stage to discuss the film since its release.

An Academy Award, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominee, Hopper was best known for his roles as rebels and oddballs, making memorable turns in Easy Rider (in which he also directed and co-wrote), Blue Velvet, and Apocalypse Now, among other titles.