"The Bodyguard": Behind-the-scenes stories of one of Hollywood's greatest melodramas

**"The Bodyguard": Behind-the-scenes look at one of Hollywood's greatest melodramas**

It's been 30 years since the film "The Bodyguard" was made. It's still enjoyed by thousands of people, and its soundtrack is among the 50 best-selling albums of the 20th century. However, few people know what really happened on the set.

**The script was written almost 20 years before the film was shot**

The script for "The Bodyguard" was written in the early 1970s, twenty years before the film was released. It was the first screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, the famous author who later wrote several episodes of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones". The characters of "The Bodyguard" were originally supposed to be actor Steve McQueen and singer Diana Ross, but the project was later canceled due to concerns that the audience would not accept the "interethnic" romance of the characters. In 1979, Ryan O'Neill was offered the role of "The Bodyguard", but due to tension with Diana Ross, he also turned down the film. Then the project was almost forgotten, until one day Kevin Costner became interested in it. He wanted to co-write the film and play the main role in it.

**Madonna and Janet Jackson applied for the role of Rachel**

The singer could not find a suitable actress for the role of Rachel Marron for a long time. Costner insisted on giving the role to Whitney Houston, but the singer herself did not agree to shoot for a long time. First, she had no experience working in cinema, so in the end several scenes had to be cut. Secondly, she considered her character too capricious. Kevin Costner had to wait two years for Whitney to agree to star in the film, and promised the singer to help her in every way during the filming. "I promise you, I will not let you fall. I will help you. And he did," Houston later said.

**Elvis Presley dreamed of performing the song "I will always love you"**

The song "I will always love you", which Whitney Houston made famous throughout the world, was written by Dolly Parton long before the film was released. In 1974, Elvis Presley tried to acquire the rights to the song, but Dolly refused, thinking that the singer would "ruin" her. After the release of "The Bodyguard", the song "I Will Always Love You" became the most popular song at weddings in America, and in England it was also often used at funerals. The songwriter Dolly Parton earned about $ 6 million in royalties. Of course, the soul version of the hit performed by Whitney Houston sounds original, but the choice of composition and its sound in the finale of the picture is the merit of Kevin Costner.

**"The Godfather" was filmed in Rachel's house**

Scenes of the film "The Godfather" were once filmed in the luxurious mansion where the main character lived according to the script. The luxurious house has 28 bedrooms, 38 bathrooms, a two-story library and a beautiful garden.

**Whitney Loses Baby Due to Overwork**

While the film was in full swing, filming had to be halted for several weeks. Whitney, who had recently been engaged to Bobby Brown, lost her unborn baby during filming. "It was physically and emotionally painful," she later said. "But I was back on stage the next day." After filming was over, Houston and Brown married, and the singer gave birth to a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, some time later.

**Critics Call the Film the Worst Film in Cinema History**

After its release, critics lambasted the film, calling The Bodyguard the worst film in cinema history. Both Houston and Costner were nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award, and the singer was ultimately named Worst Actress. But the audience did not pay attention to the opinions of critics, and the film became a number one hit. The film, which had a modest budget of $ 25 million, grossed more than $ 120 million in the United States and more than $ 400 million worldwide. 10 years ago, on February 11, 2012, the legendary singer died of a cocaine overdose. She passed out in the bathroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel and drowned. By decision of the administration, the room where the tragedy occurred is currently not for rent. At the singer's funeral, Kevin Costner gave a speech about his role in "The Bodyguard": "It was as if the picture was made for her. There were many actresses who could play her role, but I believed in Whitney, she was the only one who played Rachel Marron." Four years after the death of Whitney Houston, her only daughter Bobbi Kristina also died after a six-month coma. She drowned in a bathtub from drugs and alcohol.

**Princess Diana dreamed of playing the main role in the film "The Bodyguard 2"**

In 2012, Kevin Costner told reporters that he wanted to play Princess Diana in the sequel to the film "The Bodyguard". According to Costner, his character, a former secret agent who became a bodyguard, had to protect the princess from dangerous fans and even aggressive paparazzi. As a result, a love story arises between them, just like in the first film. Costner promises Diana that he will take care of her like Whitney. The day before the princess died in a car accident, Kevin Costner receives a draft of the script.