Warner Bros. is preparing to take another bullet for The Bodyguard. More than three decades after Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston turned a steamy romantic thriller into a global juggernaut, the studio has confirmed to Deadline that a remake is officially in the works.
Sam Wrench, who recently helmed Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, is set to direct from a script by Juror #2 screenwriter Jonathan A. Abrams. No casting has been announced, but the pressure is high. Recreating the dynamic between Costner’s Frank Farmer and Houston’s Rachel Marron, along with the musical legacy that came with it, won’t be easy.
The 1992 original followed a former Secret Service agent tasked with protecting an R&B superstar after she becomes the target of a dangerous stalker. Written by Raiders of the Lost Ark scribe Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Mick Jackson, it went on to gross US$411 million worldwide on a US$25 million budget. Much of its cultural impact came from Houston’s performance and her cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” which became a Grammy-winning anthem and helped make the film’s soundtrack one of the best-selling of all time.
Wrench brings concert documentary experience, having worked not just on Swift’s tour film but also Netflix’s A Nonsense Christmas starring Sabrina Carpenter. It’s a resume that hints at a more stylised, musically immersive take on The Bodyguard, one that may lean into the live-performance elements as much as the emotional stakes. Whether that shift helps or hinders the remake will likely depend on who’s cast in the lead roles, especially considering Houston’s performance remains a cultural milestone in both music and film.
While Wrench’s version of The Bodyguard remains in early development, it signals a clear intent from Warner Bros. to invest in emotional, music-driven storylines that can perform across global markets. Whether or not it finds the same magic (or the same kind of chart-topping soundtrack) remains to be seen.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
Kevin Low
