Princess Diana Offered Role by Kevin Costner in Canceled Bodyguard Sequel
Princess Diana Was Once Considered for a Role in a Canceled Sequel to The Bodyguard
A career in Hollywood might have been a surprising turn for Princess Diana — and it nearly happened.
According to her former butler Paul Burrell’s autobiography, the late Princess of Wales was approached by Kevin Costner with an offer to star in a sequel to his hit film The Bodyguard. Costner, who starred alongside Whitney Houston in the original, envisioned Diana as his new co-star in a follow-up movie.
The original Bodyguard was a massive success, earning over $400 million worldwide. Hoping to capture that magic again, Costner believed Diana could bring something unique to the sequel.
Though she had no acting background, Diana was reportedly intrigued after speaking directly with Costner. Paul Burrell claims that during their phone call, Kevin reassured her the role would be handled with sensitivity, saying he would personally “look after her.” Diana’s character in the film? Fittingly, a princess.
Costner later shared that Diana was open to the idea, even telling him, “My life’s about to change.” He also mentioned that during later conversations, they had even agreed on a romantic kissing scene.
But despite her interest, Diana ultimately chose to remain focused on her royal responsibilities. According to Burrell, she later decided it was “entirely impossible” for her to pursue the project.
The storyline for The Bodyguard II would have mirrored Diana’s real life in many ways — the plot centered around Costner’s character protecting a princess from the relentless pursuit of stalkers and paparazzi, which then develops into a romance.
The idea for the sequel reportedly took shape during a trip to China that Diana took with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, who played a role in connecting her with Costner. Tragically, the first draft of the script was completed just one day before Diana’s untimely death. Following her passing, the project was permanently shelved.
