The Bodyguard Becomes Guarding Stars on Netflix
Who else is excited that Guarding Stars on Netflix is the new adaptation of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Here’s the cast, the plot, and which book scenes I hope made it into the movie.
The adaptation of The Bodyguard is coming to Netflix! Guarding Stars premieres on November 18, 2026, making it perfect for holiday season viewing.
Guarding Stars: What We Know
- Release date: November 18, 2026, on Netflix
- Format: feature film
- Based on: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center (St. Martin’s Press, 2022)
- Original title: The movie was announced as The Bodyguard, then renamed Guarding Stars (perhaps to avoid confusion with this iconic movie)
- Setting: a family ranch in Montana instead of Texas, and around Christmas instead of Thanksgiving
- Where Was Guarding Stars Filmed: in and around Calgary and High River, Alberta
- Fun fact: filming paused for a few weeks after Jared Padalecki broke his leg in January 2026
Spoiler-Free Plot Summary of The Bodyguard
- Tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, bodyguard romance, grumpy/sunshine [check this one]
- Spice level: low
- Setting: a family ranch outside Austin, Texas, over Thanksgiving
The story: Hannah Brooks, a no-nonsense executive protection agent, gets assigned to guard movie star Jack Stapleton at his family’s ranch. To keep Jack’s stalkers a secret from his ailing mother, Jack asks Hannah to pose as his girlfriend. Fake dating plus forced proximity? Sign me up!
I loved this deeply emotional book featuring two characters who are very guarded (get it?) with their emotions. While The Bodyguard takes place around Thanksgiving on a Texas ranch. The movie moves the story to a snowy Montana ranch at Christmas.
How much of the book survived the trip from Texas to the Mountain West and from fall to winter? Here’s the cast, the plot, and a scene-by-scene check of what (I hope) made it into the movie.
Guarding Stars Cast
Here’s who’s who, including the characters the movie renamed.
| Book character | Movie name | Played by | Book, movie, or both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah Brooks, executive protection agent | Hannah Brooks | Leighton Meester | Both |
| Jack Stapleton, famous actor | Jack Stapleton | Jared Padalecki | Both |
| Connie Stapleton, Jack’s mom | Sally Stapleton | Andie MacDowell | Both (renamed) |
| Hank Stapleton, Jack’s older brother and ranch manager | Not announced | Possibly Noah LaLonde (listed as “Jack’s brother”) | Both? |
| Drew Stapleton, Jack’s late brother | Young Drew | William Kosovic | Both (flashbacks) |
| Doc Stapleton, Jack’s father | Not announced | Not announced | Book; check the movie |
| Glenn Schultz, Hannah’s boss | Glen | Greg Lawson | Both |
| Taylor, Hannah’s best friend and colleague | Taylor | Rachael Ancheril | Both |
| Robby, Hannah’s ex and colleague | Not announced | Not announced | Book; check the movie |
| Kelly and Amadi, colleagues | Possibly Avram and Jesse | Ryan Mah, Giles Panton | Possibly renamed |
| Kennedy Monroe, famous actress | Not announced | Not announced | Book; maybe have been renamed |
| None | Doghouse | CM Punk | Movie only |
| None | Ella Mae | Siobhan Williams | Movie only |
| None | Deputy Nadine Turner | Tess Degenstein | Movie only |
| Unknown | Clementine | Zoe Kosovic | Movie; role not announced |
Also in the cast, with roles not yet announced: Toby Sandeman, Shaun Johnston, Ava Max, and country singer Walker Hayes.
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center: Full Plot Summary with Spoilers
Hannah, a no-nonsense professional bodyguard who works for a protection agency, is mourning the recent loss of her mother.
One of the last things Hannah promised her mother was that she’d take a vacation. Her boss, Glenn, agrees and takes her off international assignments. Hannah is not pleased.
Finally, Glenn has a new job for her: guarding Jack Stapleton, the Sexiest Man Alive.
Jack’s been out of the spotlight since the death of his brother, but is contractually obligated to film a movie. His mother, who was just diagnosed with breast cancer, also lives in Texas.
Jack has a variety of stalkers. The two who are deemed highest risk are the Corgi Lady and Wilbur.
Hannah arrives at Jack’s house in Houston. He tells Hannah she’s early, which is why he’s not dressed. Then he thinks she’s the housekeeper. When he’s skeptical about her ability to protect him, she uses jujitsu to flip him.
At the ranch:
Jack insists she pretend to be his girlfriend, so as not to worry his mother. As they drive to the ranch, she learns that he’s afraid of bridges. She meets his brother Hank and gets attacked by a cow.
Back at Jack’s house, Hannah catches Robby and Taylor kissing. Jack sees her crying and she has to explain that she just saw her best friend making out with her ex.
Jack and Hannah go to the hospital to visit his mother. Her surgery went well but she asks them to stay a month, through Thanksgiving.
Hannah confronts Taylor, claiming she betrayed her and ruined the friendship. Taylor says they were just work friends.
Jack’s brother wants Hannah gone. Jack takes Hannah down to the river and she falls in. They have a huge fight.
Hannah loses her beaded safety pin necklace. She’d found the pin among her mother’s things, and remembered making it when she was eight. She put it on a chain and has worn it ever since.
Hank is rebuilding Drew’s boat and there’s some drama when Jack offers to help.
Doc Stapeleton, Jack’s dad, offers to teach Hannah to shoot and of course, she nails it with Jack watching.
Falling for each other:
Jack’s mom collapses and the brothers and Hannah rush her to the hospital. Hannah asks Jack why he and Hank are always at odds and he says Hank resents him for being alive while Drew died.
Hannah confides in Jack about Travis, her mom’s abusive husband.
The media find out Jack’s in town, and Robby and Taylor break up. Robby confesses he’s jealous watching Jack and Hannah, and tells Hannah that Jack would never want to be with her.
Jack has a nightmare and tells her about the accident that killed Drew. He was driving and the car went off a bridge.
Hannah is outed as Jack’s girlfriend and has to get pulled off the assignment. They tell his family. Connie still thinks they should get married. They explain that Jack’s stalker is after Hannah. Hank says Jack already killed one person, and Jack confesses: Drew was driving, and he’d been drinking.
Hannah tells Jack’s family that she loved being with them.
As Hannah leaves, Jack says he’ll miss her.
Kennedy shows up in Texas and proposes to Jack. As Hannah watches the footage, she realizes Jack is wearing her safety pin necklace.
Jack, with the help of the team, handled the Corgi Lady Stalker and invites Hannah to Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving includes all the EP team and homemade moonshine. Kennedy confronts Hannah and Jack, asking everyone in attendance who thinks Jack would choose her over Hannah. Everyone chooses Hannah.
Jack gives Hannah her necklace back. Hannah confesses that Robby said she was a bad kisser. They kiss and he invites her on a date.
The stalker:
When she arrives at his house, Jack tells her their whole relationship was a joke. He was only acting! Hannah believes him.
But we the reader know that OBVIOUSLY the stalker is there. Not the Corgi lady they were expecting, but Wilbur. Wilbur shoots Hannah, but it’s only a graze.
The Bodyguard Ending Explained
Jack kisses Hannah. In the epilogue, we learn that Wilbur got out of prison and started a birdhouse company.
Jack and Hannah got married. They each accept jobs at the same time so that they can spend the rest of the time together.
Did These Bodyguard Scenes Make It Into Guarding Stars on Netflix?
I’m keeping score of my favorite book moments. Check back after November 18, when I’ll update this chart!
Key: ✅ In the movie · ❌ Cut · 🔄 Changed
| Book scene | In the movie? | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Hannah uses jujitsu on Jack | ||
| Hannah falls into a river | ||
| Doc Stapleton teaches Hannah to shoot | ||
| The family celebrates Thanksgiving | ||
| Wilbur shows up |
Q&A: Guarding Stars on Netflix
Is Guarding Stars based on a book?
Yes! It’s based on The Bodyguard by Katherine Center, published in 2022.
Is The Bodyguard a Christmas book?
No. The book is set around Thanksgiving in Texas. The movie moves the story to Christmas in Montana.
When does Guarding Stars come out on Netflix?
November 18, 2026.
Who plays Hannah and Jack?
Leighton Meester plays bodyguard Hannah Brooks, and Jared Padalecki plays movie star Jack Stapleton.
More Holiday Book Adaptations
- In a Holidaze: book vs. movie: another 2026 Netflix Christmas rom-com based on a book, out December 2
- My Top Rated Christmas Romances
- New Christmas Movies to Watch in 2026 on Jen Ryland Reviews
