Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki Leon Bennett/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki are ready to bring another holiday rom-com to the Netflix catalog. The stars announced Thursday that they will star in an adaptation of Katherine Center's bestseller The Bodyguard. Andie MacDowell, Walker Hayes, Noah LaLonde and Toby Sandeman will also star in the film. The novel, published in 2022, follows a "no-nonsense bodyguard" assigned to protect "a charming action star" over the holidays. Little do they know that sparks will fly, secrets will unravel, and the holiday season will get rather complicated because of it. Related Stories Movies Colleen Hoover "Almost Embarrassed" to Say She Wrote 'It Ends With Us' After Controversy, Legal Battle TV NBC, Netflix Snag MLB Rights as League Inks New TV Deals Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum will direct the film, written by Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith. In a statement, Rosenbaum said, "I began paying close attention to BookTok culture around the success of my last Netflix Film, Purple Hearts. The overwhelming enthusiasm on social media and with readers for Katherine Center's novel was a major factor in my decision to come on board as director. It's been amazing to work closely with Katherine 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." Though the novel's original title is The Bodyguard, Meester, Padalecki and Center are enlisting fans to help choose a new name for the untitled project because the original title is "already very, very taken" thanks to Kevin Costner and the late Whitney Houston. "Getting ready to head into production, and I'm incredibly excited to be teaming up with Netflix on this one," Padalecki wrote on Instagram in a video announcement with Meester and Center. "This story has so much heart, and we can't wait to bring Katherine Center's The Bodyguard to the screen." The actor then poked fun at their search for a new film name by adding the hashtag #NotBodyguardTheMovie. View this post on Instagram THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up The Family Plan 'The Family Plan 2' Review: Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan in a Dumb-Fun Sequel That Clears a Low Bar Noah Jupe Oh Brother! The Jupes Get Shakespearean Warfare 'Warfare,' 'Pillion' Crews Nab 2025 BIFA Craft Awards trailer Meryl Streep, Dave Franco Join 'Hoppers' as Pixar Film Gets Full Trailer Justin Baldoni Colleen Hoover "Almost Embarrassed" to Say She Wrote 'It Ends With Us' After Controversy, Legal Battle Sinners Autumn Durald Arkapaw on 'Sinners,' the Celluloid Revival and Redefining Big-Screen Style The Family Plan 'The Family Plan 2' Review: Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan in a Dumb-Fun Sequel That Clears a Low Bar Noah Jupe Oh Brother! The Jupes Get Shakespearean Warfare 'Warfare,' 'Pillion' Crews Nab 2025 BIFA Craft Awards trailer Meryl Streep, Dave Franco Join 'Hoppers' as Pixar Film Gets Full Trailer Justin Baldoni Colleen Hoover "Almost Embarrassed" to Say She Wrote 'It Ends With Us' After Controversy, Legal Battle Sinners Autumn Durald Arkapaw on 'Sinners,' the Celluloid Revival and Redefining Big-Screen Style