Jared Padalecki Reveals ‘The Bodyguard’ Adaptation Update & Everything Else We Know

Rebecca Perlmutter •March 18, 2026, 11:23 am
Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester to star in 'The Bodyguard
Emma McIntyre / Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images

What To Know

  • Netflix has officially announced a film adaptation of Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard.
  • The adaptation, titled Guarding Stars, will star Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester.
  • In March 2026, Padalecki shared an update about the upcoming rom-com.

Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard has the makings of a perfect rom-com, especially with Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester confirmed as the adaptation’s leads. The former plays Hollywood heartthrob Jack Stapleton opposite Meister’s Hannah, an elite bodyguard. When Jack goes home to Texas for the holidays, Hannah is assigned to protect him from his stalker — and pretend to be his girlfriend, so as not to scare Jack’s family.

Center, Padalecki, and Meester have been keeping fans in the loop since production kicked off in late 2025. Not only did they reveal that the movie’s title had been changed to Guarding Stars — for reasons explained below — but they’ve also shared an exciting update on when Jack and Hannah’s gender-role-reversing romance will hit screens. Swooon breaking down everything we know about The Bodyguard adaptation so far.

What is Guarding Stars’ release date?

At this time, there is no release date for the Bodyguard adaptation, but Padalecki did reveal that filming wrapped on March 12. Production took place in Calgary, rather than Texas, and Padalecki shouted out the city in an Instagram post. “Thank you for letting this annoying Texan come and stay in your town for a hot second,” he wrote. “Yall are incredible hosts, and I had an incredible time…. Hope that we all did you proud. Hope that we can all make it back soon. #GuardingStars #ThatsAWrap.”

 

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A post shared by Jared Padalecki (@jaredpadalecki)

In the new title announcement a few months earlier, Center also revealed that the movie will come out in 2026. After tagging the entire production team, Center wrote, “THANK YOU to all these folks for giving us this movie to look forward to in 2026!” Seeing as Guarding Stars is set around the holidays, we’d expect to see this film hit Netflix in November or December 2026.

Why does The Bodyguard‘s adaptation need a different name?

On November 20, Padalecki posted a video with Center and Meester. Together, the trio shared two major updates. First, the film will take place around Christmas, not Thanksgiving, like the book. Second, the adaptation needed a new title since The Bodyguard is already an iconic romantic movie with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.

Padalecki wrote, “Big News!!!! Getting ready to head into production, and I’m incredibly excited to be teaming up with Netflix on this one!!! This story has so much heart, and we can’t wait to bring Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard to the screen. Only catch? The title… is already very, VERY taken.” He explained, “The whole team has been tossing around new ideas — and now we want to hear yours too.” If you have a suggestion for The Bodyguard adaptation’s new title, head to the comments of the video below.

On January 8, Center posted an Instagram Reel revealing that the new title for The Bodyguard will be Guarding Stars. She wrote, “Title reveal for The Bodyguard MOVIE!!!!!!! ✨✨✨ So many thanks to @genpadalecki and @jaredpadalecki and @itsmeleighton and @netflixfilm for bringing this book to the screen!! 💕✨💕✨💕” Watch Center’s full announcement below!

 

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A post shared by Katherine Center (@katherinecenter)

Who has been cast in the Bodyguard adaptation?

On November 20, Netflix announced that Padalecki of Supernatural and Gilmore Girls fame is set to star as Hollywood hunk Jack. Gossip Girl and The Buccaneers star Meester will appear as bona fide girlboss Hannah Brooks.

Joining Padalecki and Meester are Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day), country star Walker Hayes, Noah LaLonde (My Life with the Walter Boys), and Toby Sandeman (Running Point). While their roles have not been revealed, we’d guess that MacDowell will play Jack’s mom, and LaLonde could play his brother.

Who else is involved in the Bodyguard adaptation?

The Bodyguard will be directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum (Ginny & Georgia) and written by Richard Keith (Virgin River) and Erin Cardillo (Isn’t It Romantic). Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo are set to produce for Little Engine Productions, with Padalecki and his wife, Genevieve Padalecki, for Living in the Asterisk.

In the announcement, Rosenbaum shared, “It’s been amazing to work closely with Katherine [Center] so far, and to see her so excited about moving her witty story about a no-nonsense bodyguard to an A-list actor into the holiday season. It makes the most gorgeous backdrop for the sparks that fly between them to be even brighter at that time of year. Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki are perfect as our leads, and I know audiences are going to love seeing them on screen together.”

What else has Jared Padalecki said about Guarding Stars?

At a Supernatural fan event, Padalecki gave fans an inside look at his next project, seemingly talking about The Bodyguard. He shared, “As of now, it’s a movie that can be a rom-com, can be a dramedy, can be romantic.

When prompted by his costar, Jensen Ackles, to describe how the role would be different from recent projects like Walker, Padalecki teased, “This is going to be charming, I hope!” To prep for the “charming” actor role, he even joked, “I’ve been watching Jensen Ackles videos.”

Guarding Stars, Streaming 2026, Netflix