Meghan Markle has been tipped to land a leading role in a legendary Hollywood movie sequel but the suggestion has now been dubbed "ludicrous" by royal commentators.
The former Suits actress may be making a return to the big screen in a follow-up film to the 1992 classic The Bodyguard according to reports in Australia, the Express reports.
It seems the Duchess could be following in her late mother-in-law's footsteps as Princess Diana was also once similarly linked to The BodyGuard 2 and was in talks with Kevin Costner about making a new film.
A source told New Idea magazine that Costner who starred alongside Whitney Houston in the original as bodyguard Frank Farmer, was the one who pitched the idea of a sequel.
An insider told New Idea magazine: “The only thing Kevin loves more than an underdog like Meghan is a box office hit.”
However royal commentators have branded the news as "ludicrous" and dismissed it as a "PR move".
Kinsey Schofield spoke about the news on her podcast To Di for Daily on Tuesday where she said: "I don’t think that there’s any way that Meghan could fill in for two icons, Whitney Huston and Princess Diana — and I just think what a ludicrous suggestion."
Her co-host journalist Cristo Foufas described it as "an absolute PR move".
Ms Schofield added: "Stunt, just a total stunt, I’d go as far as saying it’s a crock of you know what…"
The Duchess left the world of acting in 2018 after marrying into the royal family.
Speaking of her future as an actress in an interview with Variety she said she had plans to return to Hollywood despite no longer being a working royal.
The 41-year-old said: "No. I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not."
Princess Diana had been set to star in The Bodyguard 2 after Costner was involved in talks with Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
He told People in 2019 that Fergie was "really important" as she set up the conversation between him and Diana at the time.
He explained: "She was the one that set it up, and she never said, ‘Well, what about me? I’m a princess too.’ She was just so supportive of the idea."
The Oscar-winning director first spoke about plans for the second film in 2012 as he revealed the plot was going to involve his character protecting Diana from stalkers and paparazzi before their relationship blossomed into romance.
The 68-year-old American actor said that he, Diana and producers were all keen on the idea.
He claims the first script for the film was put on his desk the day before the late Princess of Wales was tragically killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31 in 1997.
Costner recalled how Diana had asked whether or not they would have to kiss on screen.
He continued: "I just remember her being incredibly sweet on the phone, and she asked the question, ‘Are we going to have, like a kissing scene?’
"She said it in a very respectful [way]… she was a little nervous because her life was very governed. And I said, ‘yeah, there’s going to be a little bit of that, but we can make that ok too."
In the original film, Houston's character is followed by an unknown stalker and Costner who plays a Secret Service agent is hired to protect her before they fall in love.
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