Netflix Sets November 18 Release for Guarding Stars Rom-Com

Netflix has announced that its upcoming holiday romantic comedy, Guarding Stars, will premiere on November 18, 2026. The film stars Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki in the lead roles and is an adaptation of Katherine Center's 2022 novel, The Bodyguard.

The project was originally titled after the book, but the name was changed to avoid confusion with the 1992 film The Bodyguard, which starred Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. According to reports, the filmmakers consulted with fans and readers of Center's novel to select the new title, Guarding Stars, which nods to the story's setting and central romance.

The story follows Hannah Brooks, a no-nonsense executive protection agent, who is hired to guard a charming action star, Jack Stapleton, during the Christmas season. To protect his family from the knowledge of a stalker, Jack convinces Hannah to pose as his girlfriend. The arrangement becomes complicated as the two begin to develop genuine feelings for each other.

The film features a supporting cast that includes Andie MacDowell, country singer Walker Hayes, actor Toby Sandeman, Noah LaLonde, and WWE star CM Punk. The production is directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum,...