The movie was originally scheduled to be made in the ’70s with Steve McQueen and Diana Ross.
Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan became involved with the project in the mid-’70s, a time when the leading roles were envisioned for two of the era’s brightest stars, Steve McQueen and Diana Ross. The launch kept stalling, however, and the initial concept never reached production. In total, the project was attempted to move forward 67 times before Kevin Costner’s team stepped in to reshape it. Interestingly, the number 67 echoed in the film’s framing, as the third act unfolds around a ceremony named the 67th in the sequence, a tag that ran two years ahead of real time.
Costner, playing Frank Farmer’s bodyguard, acknowledged a respectful nod to the film’s earlier iconography by attempting to mirror McQueen’s exterior style, even adopting a similar hairstyle as part of his homage.
On the movie poster, Costner is not hiring Whitney Houston.
This detail only came to light in 2019, nearly three decades after the film’s release. In a television appearance, Costner explained that the poster did not feature Houston herself but rather that it used a stunt double for her likeness.
According to the actress involved, multiple shoots were conducted, but Costner’s character ultimately carries Rachel Marron, the singer played by Houston. The production team chose to conceal the double’s face to heighten the dramatic tension in the image, Costner later reflected.
Madonna auditioned for the female lead, but Costner refused to cast her due to ridicule.
As producer, Costner initially championed Houston for the role of Rachel Marron. Several other stars were considered for the lead, including Janet Jackson, Olivia Newton-John, and Madonna. Costner personally declined Madonna’s inclusion. The actress later recalled a backstage moment where Madonna, after shaking hands, feigned illness to capture attention for a documentary on the era.
The legendary title song of the movie was written and performed for the first time by Dolly Parton.
Originally, Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” was planned as the title track, but it was already in use for another project. Costner then suggested that Whitney Houston perform Dolly Parton’s 1974 classic “I Will Always Love You,” advising that she begin the performance a cappella. The film also features a separate Parton cover heard during a bar scene as Frank and Rachel share a moment.
Houston’s rendition, combined with the enduring popularity of the song, helped push the soundtrack to historic sales: roughly 17 million copies in the United States and 45 million worldwide. Although “I Will Always Love You” earned widespread acclaim, it did not receive an Oscar nomination because it wasn’t originally written for the movie. Other tracks from the soundtrack, including “Run to You” and “I Have Nothing,” were recognized in the Best Original Song category.
The mansion that serves as a set for Houston’s character bears an intriguing coincidence: it appears in Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather films and is linked to a famous scene involving a royal power play. The same location later appears in TV productions as a familiar backdrop, reinforcing the way filming spaces can cross-pollinate across genres. The basement area also became a recurring set piece in later television work, connecting actors across projects, including appearances by Ralph Waite in different roles across cinema and TV.
On set, Houston endured personal hardship and a crew member died in a tragic accident.
During production, Houston experienced a miscarriage, an event she later described in reflections with Barbara Walters. She noted that the demanding schedule left little room for recovery. A year later, Houston would welcome a daughter named Christina. The production also faced a fatal accident when a transportation department worker was killed by malfunctioning lighting cranes, illustrating the real risks that come with high-pressure shoots.
Some of the erotic scenes were cut at Houston’s request.
Initial drafts contained more explicit material, but Houston objected to nudity, joking that “a bare butt is not my best asset.” A number of romantic scenes were ultimately removed in the final cut, with director Mick Jackson determining they did not serve the story’s arc.
The film had to be remade due to criticism of Houston’s acting.
Early screenings with focus groups revealed a lack of chemistry between the leads and discomfort with Houston’s performance. The creative team restructured the ending to intensify the romantic pull. In the early 1990s, debates about interracial casting surfaced, with some viewers interpreting the pairing as a social statement. Costner rejected this framing, emphasizing his admiration for Houston’s beauty and the natural fit they shared on screen.
Bodyguard was the second highest-grossing film of 1992
The film’s crime melodrama earned about 25 million dollars at the box office and soared to roughly 411 million worldwide, securing a strong position behind Disney’s Aladdin in the year’s rankings.
Coster wanted to shoot a sequel and sought Princess Diana for the main role.
In 1997, Costner explored a sequel concept centered on a romantic narrative involving Princess Diana and her bodyguard, Barry Mannaki. The tragic car accident that claimed Diana’s life halted that plan. In 2011, Warner Bros. revisited a remake scenario, with Rihanna discussed for the lead, though she declined the part, citing a preference not to portray a singer on screen.