CM Punk has landed another major project outside the WWE ring in 2026. The reigning Undisputed WWE Champion is part of the cast of Guarding Stars, a Netflix romance film arriving November 18, 2026.
The film is based on The Bodyguard, a 2022 novel by Katherine Center. It centers on a bodyguard assigned to protect a well-known action star during the holiday season, with the professional relationship between them heading in a new direction.
The official synopsis reads:
“A no-nonsense bodyguard is assigned to protect a charming action star over the holidays, leading sparks to fly and secrets to unravel, with Christmas getting a whole lot more complicated.”
Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki headline the film, while Punk is officially listed in the Netflix credits under his real name, Phil Brooks. Andie MacDowell, Noah LaLonde, Walker Hayes, Toby Sandeman, Rachael Ancheril, Ava Max, and Shaun Johnston round out the cast.
Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, who helmed Purple Hearts, directs Guarding Stars. Erin Cardillo, Richard Keith, Gina Matthews, and Grant Scharbo wrote the screenplay.
Guarding Stars marks the third Katherine Center novel adapted for the screen. The Lost Husband was adapted into a film in 2020, and Happiness for Beginners hit Netflix in 2023 starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes.