- Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi to star in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation
- Casting sparks backlash over age, racial differences from novel
- Fennell's vision divides fans, critics, fueling debate on social media
Acclaimed Australian actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are set to star in a highly anticipated film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, under the direction of Oscar-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell.
The upcoming production, scheduled to begin filming in the UK next year, has drawn criticism from film enthusiasts and critics alike, questioning the casting decisions. Robbie, 34, will play Catherine Earnshaw, while Elordi will portray the iconic character of Heathcliff.
“Did anyone actually read the book before deciding this?” asked Clarisse Loughrey, film critic for The Independent.
Critics point out that Catherine is depicted as a teenager in the novel, whereas Heathcliff is described as “dark-skinned” in Brontë’s 1847 masterpiece.
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, TV and film critic, sarcastically remarked, “White Heathcliff and 34-year-old Cathy, and they both look like they belong on Instagram. I’m obsessed. Emerald Fennell does it again.”
Maggie Boccella, Collider critic and editor, expressed her disappointment, stating, “It is painfully obvious that Fennell doesn’t actually care about Wuthering Heights’s themes. She just wants to make a tortured lovers drama with a name that’ll put butts in seats.”
Despite backlash, some fans remain optimistic. Film critic Scott Clark wrote, “Praying for another pristine round of high camp melodrama trash from Fennell.”
Emerald Fennell’s vision for the adaptation remains largely under wraps, but her announcement featured a gothic illustration with a quote from Heathcliff: “Be with me always, take any form, drive me mad.”
The classic novel tells the tumultuous tale of Heathcliff and Catherine’s obsessive love, marred by unhealthy relationships and tragedy.
This adaptation follows a long line of screen interpretations, including the 2011 film starring Kaya Scodelario and James Howson, and the 1992 version featuring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes.
