Actor Kevin Costner recently revealed in an interview an unshared account of his intention to cast Princess Diana in the sequel to his successful 1992 movie, “The Bodyguard.” This initiative, aided by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, was never realized due to Princess Diana’s premature demise.
While appearing on an episode of PeopleTV’s “Couch Surfing,” Costner discussed this prospective partnership. He unveiled that the notion sprouted around the mid-1990s, with a significant contribution from Sarah Ferguson. Costner stated, “Sarah was really important. She set up the conversation between me and Diana and supported the idea.”
The follow-up film was set to feature Costner’s character, Frank Farmer, safeguarding Diana’s character from paparazzi and obsessive followers, leading to a romantic twist. Diana displayed interest and even questioned about a kissing scene, displaying a blend of apprehension and interest. Costner remembered that she was very respectful and a little nervous because her life was governed. Despite her nervousness, he said Diana was ready to take on the challenge of acting in a Hollywood movie.
The project encountered an abrupt halt following Diana’s vehicular accident in August 1997 at the age of 36, just a day after Costner had received the screenplay for the sequel. Years later, Costner had a private meeting with Diana’s son, Prince William; during their conversation, Prince William shared a surprising fact. “The first thing he said was, ‘You know, my mom kind of fancied you,'” Costner recounted. He responded with surprise and appreciation, simply stating, “I know.”
Costner voiced profound respect for Prince William, characterizing their conversation as amiable. “We talked for about half an hour,” Costner mentioned. “I’ll never say what we talked about, but it was a sweet thing.”
Looking back on the unrealized project, Costner remarked on how it almost became a reality, expressing his admiration for Princess Diana and the assistance from Sarah Ferguson.
While the film was not produced, Costner’s narration provides a tantalizing insight into what could have been an intriguing blend of Hollywood and monarchical worlds.
