Posted by | Ray Cornelius
A few months back RC reported that Tony and Grammy-winning Broadway actress Heather Headley was starring in a new musical version of the blockbuster film, The Bodyguard. Well now the production has finally opened in London’s West End with plans of bringing the show to the Broadway stage.
The Bodyguard was Whitney Houston’s first feature film and starred Kevin Costner as secret service agent Frank Farmer. Farmer is hired to protect Houston’s character Rachel Marron, an arrogant and domineering musical superstar who has received death threats. Eventually, the two fall in love.
The original movie script was written for Diana Ross and Steve McQueen in the mid 70’s but was deemed as “too controversial.” The project was later picked up again in 1979 for Ross and her then real-life-boyfriend Ryan Oneal but was shelved after the two parted ways. It was eventually reworked for Houston in the early 90’s. Other singers once considered for the lead role include Madonna, Joan Jett, Pat Benetar and Janet Jackson.
The film gross over $400 millions worldwide at the box office and featured such memorable musical numbers as “I Have Nothing,” “Queen of the Night,” “I’m Every Woman,” and of course “I Will Always Love You.”
Although this is a remake, it is not totally a repeat of the film. Reports say that producers have weaved other classic Houston songs like I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), So Emotional and One Moment in Time into the show.
Here is a look at the official trailer…
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