Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi Ignite in Bold New Wuthering Heights
The first trailer for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights has finally dropped, and it’s already sparking intense conversation. This isn’t the dusty, gothic adaptation people may expect from Emily Brontë’s classic novel—it’s something far more daring, provocative, and, frankly, erotic.
Fennell, best known for her Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman and the cult-favorite Saltburn, has taken a bold step in reimagining the windswept romance of Catherine and Heathcliff. Margot Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw, while Jacob Elordi takes on the role of the brooding Heathcliff. From the first glimpse, the film makes it clear that sensuality is front and center—bread kneading, bodice ripping, shirtless laboring in the stables, and a string of highly charged images that suggest obsession and passion rather than restrained Victorian decorum.
Also Read:- Wildfire Shuts Down Coquihalla Highway in Both Directions
- Giants Elevate Rookie Jaxson Dart to Backup QB Role
The project itself has been the subject of industry buzz since it set off a bidding war in 2024. Netflix reportedly offered $150 million, but Warner Bros secured the rights for nearly half that amount—about $80 million—insisting on a theatrical release. That gamble seems deliberate, since the film’s steamy marketing campaign, plastered across billboards in London, New York, and Los Angeles, leans into the tagline: “drive me mad.”
But not all responses have been glowing. Reports from test screenings hinted at walkouts and mixed reactions. Some early viewers described the film as “aggressively provocative,” pointing to a notorious execution scene that left audiences stunned. Even so, supporters argue that Fennell’s fearless approach is exactly what a story as wild and destructive as Wuthering Heights demands.
Casting has also fueled debate. In the novel, Heathcliff is described as dark-skinned, and Fennell’s choice of Elordi, a white Australian actor, has drawn criticism. Casting director Karmel Cochrane defended the decision, emphasizing that the story is a work of art, not a documentary. She urged viewers to wait and see the performances before passing judgment.
Robbie arrives to this project fresh off the mega-success of Barbie, while Elordi continues his post-Euphoria rise with roles in Priscilla, On Swift Horses, and Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein. Both actors have praised the script and the vision, with Elordi calling it “a breathtaking romance, a true epic, visually stunning and deeply emotional.”
Wuthering Heights has been adapted many times before, but Fennell’s take may be the most divisive yet. Where earlier versions leaned into windswept melancholy, this one appears to embrace raw passion and the destructive madness of love. Whether audiences are scandalized or swept away, one thing is certain—the film is not trying to play it safe.
Warner Bros has set the release for Valentine’s Day, making it a bold counterprogramming move for the holiday of roses and chocolates. Instead of a sweet romance, Fennell is offering a fevered tale of obsession, torment, and desire. Whether it shocks or seduces, this Wuthering Heights will be remembered.
Read More:
0 Comments