Princess Diana Nearly Starred in The Bodyguard II, Costner Reveals; Burrell's Memoir Recounts 'Impossible' Idea

After the immense success of the 1992 film The Bodyguard, rumors swirled about a sequel that would feature Princess Diana. Kevin Costner has confirmed that he spoke with Diana through Sarah, Duchess of York, about a project built around her, a possibility discussed at the height of the original film’s fame. The remarks appear in Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell’s 2025 book The Royal Insider, which recounts the long-running rumor with fresh detail.

Diana declined to join what Burrell describes as the professional sphere of her future daughter-in-law Meghan Markle and to become an actress, but she was reportedly approached to appear in The Bodyguard II opposite Costner. Burrell writes that he relayed Costner’s call to Diana in her sitting room, and that she squirmed with giggles, saying, "But I can't sing! What would I be expected to do? I'm not sure but yes, OK, send it and I promise I will have a look." The arrangement reportedly would have cast her as a princess, with Costner’s character serving as her protector, and the promise to handle the project tastefully. Diana is said to have told Burrell that Costner had offered the lead role and that she would consider it.

Costner said he first spoke publicly about the axed Bodyguard sequel in 2012, describing a plot in which he would protect Diana’s character from stalkers and paparazzi before their relationship turns romantic. He said Diana was initially on board, telling him, "My life’s about to change." In a later conversation they discussed a kissing scene, with Costner noting that he would not make the entire romance about her but that there would be a moment of romance. The idea for the film reportedly would have revolved around a romance that was to be carefully staged and, as he later described, would not overwhelm the central dynamic of protection and suspense.

The idea for the film reportedly emerged during a trip to China that Diana took with Costner, the Duchess of York and Hong Kong restaurant magnate David Tang. The trip is said to have seeded the concept for a Bodyguard II that could nimbly blend glamour with thriller elements, though no script ever progressed to production. Years later, Costner recounted a meeting in the United Kingdom with Prince William, who reportedly said to him, "You know, my mum kind of fancied you." Costner said he and William spoke for about half an hour, recalling the moment with fondness and respect for the future king.

When Diana died in 1997, Costner said he could not replace Princess Di and that the film was never made. He has since described a period when his relationship with the Royal Family soured after her death, saying that the public discussion of a Bodyguard II became tense and at times ugly. He recalled telling Sarah Ferguson that he intended to push ahead, and that the Royal Family urged him to stop, a sequence he characterized as tense and painful in retrospect.

The Bodyguard remains a landmark in early 1990s cinema. It was one of the highest-grossing films of its era, earning more than £300 million worldwide, and its soundtrack sold more than 42 million copies, largely driven by Whitney Houston’s rendition of I Will Always Love You. The role Houston played was written originally for Diana Ross, and the film’s success briefly elevated Houston to one of the world’s highest-paid actors in the mid-1990s. The Bodyguard’s enduring fame helps explain why the notion of a Diana-led sequel has persisted in memory and in discussion, even as the film never materialized.

Taken together, the accounts from Costner, Burrell and other recollections illustrate a moment when a major pop-culture crossroad existed on the table. The conversations reportedly happened at pivotal points in Diana’s public life, and the idea of a Bodyguard II would have reimagined her public image in a cinematic frame. Yet the project never moved beyond discussions, and the original film’s legacy continues without a Diana-centered follow-up. Burrell’s memoir, Costner’s later remarks, and the archival record converge on one point: the Bodyguard II remains an intriguing what-if rather than a completed film.