Kevin Costner Says 'That Wasn't Even Whitney' on Movie Poster for 'The Bodyguard'

Kevin Costner just shattered several hearts after revealing that the woman he was carrying on the poster for the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard,” was not his co-star, the late singer Whitney Houston.

The image of Costner rescuing a distressed Rachel Marron (played by Houston) makes for one of the most iconic romantic posters of all time, so it’s not surprising that the actor’s latest revelation is nothing short of a bombshell.

Kevin Costner at "Yellowstone" Season 2 Premiere Party in Los Angeles, California on May 30, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images.

Costner told Entertainment Weekly:

“That wasn’t even Whitney actually. She had gone home and that was her double, and her head was buried into my shoulder, which was appropriate anyway. She was frightened.”

Whitney Houston at the 2009 American Music Awards on Nov. 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. | Photo: Getty Images

Interestingly, the picture was not originally meant to be a poster. Costner’s friend took it while they shot the memorable scene where Frank Farmer, Costner’s character, rescues his client after a riot breaks out during one of her shows.

'They sent me like five mockups where they put her head [on it] where she’s looking [out].'

“I picked that picture out because my friend Ben Glass took it,” Costner recalled. “I sent it to Warner Brothers, and I go, ‘There’s the poster.’ Because it was so evocative. It wasn’t special photography; it wasn’t anything.”

Screenshot of the movie poster. | Photo: Twitter/@markbeirne

But the film executives were not as enthusiastic as Costner about the snapshot. They didn’t like it because Houston's face was not visible, and considering that she was a huge pop star at the time, the bosses felt it would be good for the film's commercial performance.

Costner continued:

“They sent me like five mockups where they put her head [on it] where she’s looking [out]. I said ‘Guys, I think we had it the first time.’ That it was really, and that ended up being the poster.”

“The Bodyguard” ended up becoming the second-highest-grossing film worldwide in 1992, earning $411 million at the box office, per The Hollywood Reporter. The film’s soundtrack also became the best-selling soundtrack of all time, selling more than 42 million copies worldwide.

'Now I'm questioning everything about life.'

Some of the late Houston’s most memorable tracks from the movie include "I Have Nothing," "Run to You," and a brilliant cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”

Whitney Houston at the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party on Feb. 9, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. | Photo: Getty Images

Costner and Houston’s relationship transcended sizzling on-screen chemistry to true friendship which saw the actor speaking at the singer’s funeral in 2012.

With Costner’s revelation about that iconic poster, several “Bodyguard” fans have been left heartbroken to learn that they had been mistaken for over two decades.

“Whuuuuut? My world is shattered,” proclaimed one Twitter user in reaction to the news.

“Now I'm questioning everything about life,” added another.

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