Image Credit: Alamy
Jared Padalecki and Leighton Meester will star in Netflix’s latest romantic comedy film, Guarding the stars, as filming begins Padalecki will play a movie star in December 2025 who, after being stalked, is assigned a bodyguard, played by Meester, and must pretend she is his girlfriend when he returns to his family’s farm for the holidays. Filming will be completed in March 2026 and it is set for release on Netflix in late 2026.
Guarding Stars (formerly The Bodyguard) is an upcoming Netflix Original romantic-comedy film directed by Elizabeth Ellen Rosenbaum (Ginny and Georgia) and written by grant sharbo, richard keithAnd Erin Cardilloand adapted from the novel of the same name by author Catherine Center, first published in 2022.
The project has been in the works for quite some time, with Netflix having optioned the novel for 2024. This is The Center’s second major Netflix adaptation following 2023. Happiness for beginners, Which included Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes.
gina matthews (13 going on 30) Is producing through his production company Little Engine Productions. Readymade Productions and Tremblant Productions are also producing the film. Genevieve Padalecki (divine) Also listed as manufacturer.
what is the plot of guarding the stars?
The plot is as follows:
“When straight-laced executive security agent Hannah Brooks is dealing with a breakup and the death of her mother, her Houston-based security firm assigns her an unusual assignment: protecting Hollywood’s most famous heartthrob, Jack Stapleton. Once the world’s favorite action star, Jack has moved back to his family’s Montana ranch after a scandal and a tragedy have kept him out of the public eye. Jack doesn’t want his ailing mother, Sally Stapleton, to be exposed to a stalker. Learn about. Threatening him, he insists on introducing Hannah as his girlfriend instead of his bodyguard. Growing closer, Hannah must combine her professional instincts with the warmth of Jack’s family. As the danger increases and secrets emerge, Hannah must decide whether to keep her heart closed or risk everything for a man who may be more than a client.
Notably, the location of the plot has been changed for the adaptation, with the novel set in Texas and the film set in Montana.
Image: Amazon
Who are the actors? guarding the stars?
The two lead actors listed for the film are Jared Padalecki And Leighton Meester.
Jared Padalecki Will play Jack Stapleton. He is best known for starring as Sam Winchester in The CW’s beloved fantasy-drama series Supernatural, among many other characters. He is set to star in the fifth and final season alongside his fellow Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles of amazon prime boys. Padalecki is also known for his role as Cordell Walker on The CW’s crime drama walker.
Pictured: Jared Padalecki in Supernatural (left), Walker (center), and Fire Country (right)
Leighton Meester Will play the role of Hannah Brooks. The actress played the lead role in The CW’s hit romantic drama series gossip Girl. Like the shows he has starred in orville, good cop/bad copAnd, recently, buccaneers. For Netflix, she previously voiced Sasha my father’s dragon And will also be seen in the upcoming second season no one wants this.
Image: Leighton Meester
The rest of the cast of the film is as follows:
- andie mcdowell (Groundhog Day).
- toby sandman (Royals).
- Siobhan Williams (mine) As Ella Mae.
- noah lalonde (My Life with Walter Boys).
- cm Punk (girl on the third floor) As a doghouse.
- zoe kosovic (The Smashing Machine) as Clementine.
- Rachel Ankrill (Star Trek: Discovery).
- William Kosovik (sharp corner) As Young Drew.
- Giles Panton (The Man in the High Castle) As Jessie.
- ryan mah (Avatar The Last Airbender) As Avram.
- greg lawson (Don Anna) As Glenn.
- ava max (scoob!)
- Annabel Beams (fault line) As a cowgirl.
- Phil Brooks (go girls).
- walker hayes (The Paranormal)
What is the production status of guarding the stars?
Development
filming scheduled
filming going on
post production
filming for guarding the stars Started on December 4, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and officially ends on February 17, 2026. Post-production of the film began on March 13, 2026.
Filming also took place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
when is the release date of netflix guarding the stars?
it has been confirmed guarding the stars Will be released on Netflix sometime in late 2026. This means, as a Christmas rom-com, we will see the film releasing in November or December 2026.
ProductionWeekly first reported the casting on September 17. Netflix declined to comment.
Are you curious to watch? guarding the stars On Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
