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Pre-Production | Filming | Post-Production
Pre-Production
Screenwriter Graham Yost was told by his dad about the film Runaway Train. His dad believed that the train was out of control because of a bomb on board. Yost liked the idea so he came up with an idea about a bomb on a bus that had maintained a certain amount of speed or it will blow up. Yost wrote the script and shopped around to studios. 20th Century Fox liked it but felt there was too much bus in it. After adding a different ending on the subway, Fox optioned it.
Fox wanted director John McTierrian to direct, but he turned it down. It was eventually decided to have a newcomer to direct. After a majority of people turning to down, including Quentin Tarantino, cinematographer Jan de Bont got the job. Even though this would be his first directing job, Bont was cinematographer on Die Hard and Hunt for Red October; two films directed by McTierrian. Screenwriter Joss Whedon was brought in as an unofficial script doctor.
Casting was a nightmare. Many people turned down the role of Jack and Annie. Jeff Bridges and Ellen DeGeneres were intentionally cast as Jack and Annie but that later fell through. Bridges would later be cast as Harry. The role of Jack would eventually go to Keanu Reeves, only accepting after hearing Joss Whedon was brought in as script doctor. Over two dozen big name actresses tried out for Annie, but in the end, Sandra Bullock got the part.
Interstate 105 in California was just about to open to the public right as filming was about to commence. Fox and the filmmakers were given permission to use the 105 and also as much time they needed.
Filiming
Right as filming was about to start, River Phoenix died of an overdose outside Johnny Depp's club the Viper Room. Phoenix was a close friend of Reeves and affected him deeply. Bont changed the shooting schedule around Reeves in order for him to take it easy.
Filming proved very tricky. Since the 105 was completely finished, the famous gap had to be digitally erased. The bus jump was achieved by a stunt driver hitting a ramp and landing in a wall of cardboard boxes. The dilemma that the jump provided was the buses. They only had two buses for the jump so they had to do it in two takes. Bont was so pleased with take two, they stopped and no extra money was spent.
Keanu Reeves was ordered by Bont to get a cop looking haircut. On the first day of shooting, he showed up with a buzz cut which horrified both the studio and producers and almost postponed the movie to let his hair grow back. Reeves also did the majority of his own stunts, including the scene where Jack jumps onto the bus from the moving car. Bont did not want Reeves to do it but he secretly trained with the stunt team and did it in one take.
Sandra Bullock actually learned how to drive a bus for the movie, passing her test on the first try; however, the majority of the time she was not driving. Special busses were made where stunt-men were driving the bus. Sometimes they were driving on top on the bus, under the bus, or in the back where the passengers were depending on the scene.
Even though the 105 was done, workers were still putting finishing touches on the highway, which was a hassle for the crew. Since they didn't want continuity issues, they couldn't film the entire 105 in order so they had to work around the schedule of the road workers.
Post-Production
Bont capalized on special effects for the bus jump and the subway scenes; however, the majoiry of the film was all live-action stunts. Bont wanted a realness to the movie, which is why he only used special effects when needed.
The opening scene was done by using an 80 foot minature of a 50 foot elevator shaft. Bont also maniplated the speed of the camera in order for the shot to last the entire opening credits.