Leighton Meester & Jared Padalecki Bring the Heat in ‘Guarding Stars’ Trailer
Netflix’s holiday romance, Guarding Stars , is right around the corner, and now we officially have a trailer! The Christmas movie adapts Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard, with Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester taking on the charming movie star and the grumpy executive protection agent duo.
Guarding Stars follows Padalecki as Hollywood heartthrob Jack Stapleton opposite Meester’s Hannah, an elite bodyguard. When Jack goes home to Texas for the holidays, Hannah is assigned to protect him from his stalker — and pretend to be his girlfriend, so as not to scare Jack’s family. November cannot come soon enough!
Center, Padalecki, and Meester have been keeping fans in the loop since production kicked off in late 2025. Not only did they reveal that the movie’s title had been changed to Guarding Stars — for reasons explained below — but they’ve also shared an exciting update on when Jack and Hannah’s gender-role-reversing romance will hit screens. Swooon is breaking down everything we know about The Bodyguard adaptation so far.
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What is Guarding Stars’ premiere date?
Guarding Stars is set to premiere on November 18, only on Netflix. Production took place in Calgary, rather than Texas, and Padalecki shouted out the city in an Instagram post. “Thank you for letting this annoying Texan come and stay in your town for a hot second,” he wrote. “Yall are incredible hosts, and I had an incredible time…. Hope that we all did you proud. Hope that we can all make it back soon. #GuardingStars #ThatsAWrap.”
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Is there a trailer for Guarding Stars?
Yes! The trailer for Guarding Stars premiered on October 14 and showcases the iconic meet-cute between Jack and Hannah, where Hannah flips Jack onto his back, leading him to call her “bada**.” The trailer also reveals Hannah and Jack’s first kiss, which is anything but romantic. Watch the full preview above!
Why does The Bodyguard‘s adaptation need a different name?
On November 20, 2025, Padalecki posted a video with Center and Meester. Together, the trio shared two major updates. First, the film will take place around Christmas, not Thanksgiving, like the book. Second, the adaptation needed a new title since The Bodyguard is already an iconic romantic movie with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.
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Padalecki wrote, “Big News!!!! Getting ready to head into production, and I’m incredibly excited to be teaming up with Netflix on this one!!! This story has so much heart, and we can’t wait to bring Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard to the screen. Only catch? The title… is already very, VERY taken.” He explained, “The whole team has been tossing around new ideas — and now we want to hear yours too.”
On January 8, Center posted an Instagram Reel revealing that the new title for The Bodyguard will be Guarding Stars. She wrote, “Title reveal for The Bodyguard MOVIE!!!!!!! So many thanks to @genpadalecki and @jaredpadalecki and @itsmeleighton and @netflixfilm for bringing this book to the screen!!”
Who has been cast in the Bodyguard adaptation?
In November 2025, Netflix announced that Padalecki of Supernatural and Gilmore Girls fame was set to star as Hollywood hunk Jack. Gossip Girl and The Buccaneers star Meester will appear as bona fide girlboss Hannah Brooks.
Joining Padalecki and Meester are Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day) playing Jack’s mom Connie, country star Walker Hayes playing Sheriff Sanderson, Noah LaLonde (My Life with the Walter Boys) playing Jack’s brother Hank, and Toby Sandeman (Running Point) as Robbie, Rachael Ancheril (Star Trek: Discovery) as Taylor, WWE wrestler Phil Brooks as Doghouse, and young actors Zoe Kosovic and Henrik Bosovich as Clementine and Wyatt. Check out a first look at the characters below!
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Who else is involved in the Bodyguard adaptation?
The Bodyguard will be directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum (Ginny & Georgia) and written by Richard Keith (Virgin River) and Erin Cardillo (Isn’t It Romantic). Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo are set to produce for Little Engine Productions, with Padalecki and his wife, Genevieve Padalecki, for Living in the Asterisk.
In the announcement, Rosenbaum shared, “It’s been amazing to work closely with Katherine [Center] so far, and to see her so excited about moving her witty story about a no-nonsense bodyguard to an A-list actor into the holiday season. It makes the most gorgeous backdrop for the sparks that fly between them to be even brighter at that time of year. Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki are perfect as our leads, and I know audiences are going to love seeing them on screen together.”
Guarding Stars, Streaming, November 18, Netflix
