Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been tipped to land a lead role in a legendary Hollywood movie sequel — but the suggestion has been dismissed as “ludicrous” by royal commentators.
The former Suits actress may make a return to the screen, starring in a follow-up film to the 1992 classic The Bodyguard, reports in Australia have suggested.
It seems she could be following in her mother-in-law’s footsteps as Princess Diana was similarly linked to The Bodyguard 2 and was in talks with Kevin Costner.
A source told New Idea magazine that Costner, who starred alongside Whitney Houston in the original, pitched the idea of a follow-up. An insider told New Idea magazine: “The only thing Kevin loves more than an underdog like Meghan is a box office hit.”
But royal commentators have snubbed the news as “ludicrous”, dismissing the news as a “PR move”.
Kinsey Schofield, speaking on her podcast To Di For Daily released on Tuesday, said: “I don’t think that there’s any way that Meghan could fill in for two icons, Whitney Huston and Princess Diana — and I just think what a ludicrous suggestion.”
Her co-host, journalist Cristo Foufas described it as “an absolute PR move”.
Ms Schofield added: “Stunt, just a total stunt, I’d go as far as saying it’s a crock of you know what…”
Meghan left the world of acting in 2018 and, in an interview with Variety last year, the 41-year-old said she would not be returning, although she did not completely rule it out. She said: “No. I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.”
Prince Harry’s late mother was set to star in The Bodyguard after Costner was involved in talks with Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
He told People in 2019 that Fergie was “really important” having set up the conversation between him and Diana, adding: “She was the one that set it up, and she never said, ‘Well, what about me? I’m a princess too.’ She was just so supportive of the idea.”
The Oscar-winning director first spoke about the project in 2012, revealing that the plot was going to involve his character protecting Diana’s from stalkers and paparazzi before their relationship blossomed into romance.
The 68-year-old American actor said that he, Diana and producers were keen on the idea with the first script for the idea landing on his desk the day before the late Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash on August 31, 1997.
Costner recalled how Diana had queried whether they would have to kiss on screen.
He continued: “I just remember her being incredibly sweet on the phone, and she asked the question, ‘Are we going to have, like a kissing scene?’
“She said it in a very respectful [way]… she was a little nervous because her life was very governed. And I said, ‘yeah, there’s going to be a little bit of that, but we can make that ok too.’”
In the original film, Houston’s character is being followed by an unknown stalker and Costner, who plays a Secret Service agent, is hired to protect her before they fall in love.
All episodes of the To Di For Daily podcast are available here.
