When contemplating who should embark on the journey to recreate Whitney Houston's iconic role in the upcoming remake of The Bodyguard, Tyra Banks, with a visionary gleam in her eye, has a particular pop sensation in mind. "Taylor Swift, I say, for she effortlessly blends business acumen, artistic prowess, and possesses the marketing magic to spark a frenzy," exclaimed Banks, 51, during the April 14 episode of Today With Jenna & Friends. Furthermore, the supermodel envisioned another actor to star opposite Swift, 35, in the film's romantic narrative.
"As a Black woman, I remember Whitney Houston's portrayal as a Black woman alongside Kevin Costner's white character," she mused to Today's Jenna Bush Hager. "Imagine flipping the script – Taylor Swift and Idris Elba taking center stage?" Bush Hager, 43, enthusiastically endorsed Banks' casting proposal, affirming, "That sounds perfect." Banks herself noted the scorching chemistry Swift and Elba, 52, could ignite on the silver screen.
Swift and Elba have shared screen space before in the 2019 film Cats, where the Grammy winner portrayed Bombalurina, one of the film's less endearing feline characters, collaborating with Elba's Macavity. Moreover, Swift has ties to the remake's director, Sam Wrench, who directed her October 2023 Eras Tour movie. Wrench is renowned for helming numerous musical projects, including concert films for stars such as Brandi Carlile, BTS, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish, as well as Sabrina Carpenter's A Nonsense Christmas special on Netflix and the 2024 Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.
As of now, no casting announcements have been made for the project. Deadline reports that Jonathan A. Abrams, the writer of Juror #2, will pen the movie's script.
Released in 1992, The Bodyguard follows former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer (Costner), hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron (Houston). As Frank shields Rachel from a perilous stalker, a romantic bond blossoms between them. The Bodyguard stands as one of Houston's most memorable cinematic roles before her tragic passing at 48 in 2012. The film's soundtrack featured many of her timeless hits, including "I Will Always Love You," "I Have Nothing," "I'm Every Woman," "Run to You," and more.
Plans for a remake of The Bodyguard have reportedly been in the pipeline since 2011. In 2021, Tony-winning playwright Matthew López was attached to write the film's script, revealing to Variety that his version would center on a "young Latina performer who has just gained fame," departing from Houston's "established" character in the original. "It's about how her life has transformed overnight, catapulting her into immediate need of protection," he shared in September 2021. "It was crucial for me to seize this moment to elevate Latin faces and narratives on a grand scale."
It remains unclear whether López has fully severed ties with the project. In June 2023, he told Variety that he had "submitted my script," adding, "I'm unsure where they are in the process. I know the producers are passionate about the film, and I hope it comes to fruition."
