The legendary Kevin Costner character first envisioned for Steve McQueen: “We’ll make it great”

Steve McQueen and Kevin Costner are two actors who have come to symbolize different eras and facets of Americana, making it tough to picture a role originally crafted for one being brought to life by the other.

McQueen, famously dubbed the ‘King of Cool,’ built his legend on smoldering charisma and a rugged, dangerous charm. His piercing blue eyes and sharp features made him a lasting icon of his time—and beyond—as the quintessential embodiment of raw American masculinity.

Costner, on the other hand, has never exactly been labeled “cool.” Instead, he channels a more nostalgic, sentimental vibe. Known for his love of sports dramas and westerns, Costner became the beloved face of middle America during the peak of his career, evoking a wistful, everyman quality that stood apart from McQueen’s intensity.

The obvious fact is McQueen had passed away long before Costner rose to fame, highlighting just how long this casting change had been simmering behind the scenes. Nearly two decades passed from the moment the script was written to when the film finally hit theaters—and the result was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon.

Though The Bodyguard, starring Costner alongside Whitney Houston, wasn’t critically acclaimed, it was undeniably a massive hit. The film crushed it at the box office, earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song, spawned the best-selling movie soundtrack ever, and will always be remembered for Houston’s iconic rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”

All these factors contributed to the film’s success—and they make it almost impossible to imagine McQueen playing the role of a former Secret Service agent tasked with protecting a music superstar stalked by danger. Yet, that’s exactly who screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan had originally envisioned.

“I wrote it for Steve McQueen, but Kevin is absolutely what I wrote in 1975,” Kasdan reflected. “And I think his instincts about Whitney Houston were spot on—she’s a huge part of why the movie worked. Unfortunately, a lot of the surrounding elements didn’t come together as they should have, and that’s partly my fault because I was one of the producers and maybe should have stepped in more.”

Costner and Kasdan’s friendship, forged while working on Silverado in 1985, made the project possible. Kasdan eagerly acquired the rights to The Bodyguard, and together they co-produced the film through their companies, Tig Productions and Kasdan Pictures. “I said, ‘Larry, come with me, and we’ll make this movie, and we’ll make it great,’” Costner recalled—showing his commitment to the project.

For Kasdan, it felt almost destined. “It was the only thing I ever sold that didn’t get made,” he admitted. “But Kevin was relentless about getting it done.” Sure, seven Razzie nominations were hardly a badge of honor—but no one cared once The Bodyguard raked in massive profits nearly two decades after it was first penned with McQueen in mind.