Emerald Fennell’s Controversial Wuthering Heights Adaptation Explained

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2026 promises a lot of exciting new films in theaters, including an adaptation of a popular book that’s already generating a lot of buzz – and controversy. While book-to-movie adaptations can be huge successes, sometimes launching entire franchises like The Hunger Games, they don’t always live up to the original story.

In 2026, several books will be adapted into movies, including a new version of Wuthering Heights. Directed by Emerald Fennell, this film is based on Emily Brontë’s beloved 1847 novel and features Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in leading roles.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting the 2026 release of Wuthering Heights, but the film has also faced a lot of debate, and those issues started early in the making of the movie.

Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights Controversies Explained

I was so excited when Emerald Fennell, the director behind Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, announced she was adapting Wuthering Heights back in July 2024! Her previous films were amazing, so I had high hopes for her take on the classic. But honestly, when the casting for the main roles was revealed, a lot of the excitement died down.

The casting of Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in September 2024 sparked debate among fans of Wuthering Heights. Many online commenters noted that Heathcliff is not typically portrayed as white. However, it’s worth remembering that the novel itself is ambiguous about Heathcliff’s background, offering conflicting hints about his origins.

Most readers and critics agree that Heathcliff isn’t white, although the novel is open to interpretation, leading to discussions about casting choices like Jacob Elordi. Emerald Fennell, speaking to the BBC News, explained that Elordi reminded her of the original illustration of Heathcliff she saw in her first edition of the book, when they met on the set of Saltburn.

The debate over the actors in the new Wuthering Heights film didn’t stop when the first trailer came out—it actually got worse. Many people were upset by the trailer’s overall feel, and especially by the tagline “inspired by the greatest love story.” This made fans of the book believe that the film would significantly change the original story.

Critics are already saying that Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights glosses over the most troubling aspects of the story and portrays an unhealthy relationship as romantic, ultimately changing the novel’s core message.

Is Wuthering Heights An Adaptation Of The Novel?

Given all the discussion and shifts in direction surrounding Fennell’s Wuthering Heights film, many are wondering if it’s a true adaptation of the original novel or something entirely different. While initially presented as an adaptation of Brontë’s book, details released about the project suggest it’s straying further and further from the source material.

The new film version of Wuthering Heights is being presented as a fresh take on the classic story. Emerald Fennell, the director, has explained that she aimed to recreate the emotional impact the book had on her when she first read it. The film’s title is also presented with quotation marks, suggesting it’s Fennell’s unique vision of the novel.

1 Wuthering Heights Theory Explains The Movie’s Biggest Controversy

The way the title is presented, along with the story changes hinted at in the trailers, has sparked a fascinating theory about the controversies surrounding Wuthering Heights. Emerald Fennell often includes unexpected twists in her films, and this adaptation might be no different.

One interpretation of Wuthering Heights proposes that the story unfolds within Catherine’s own mind. This could account for the film’s more romantic feel compared to the novel, and also explain inconsistencies in the plot. The idea is that Catherine’s inner suffering and isolation lead her to create and inhabit this passionate romance with Heathcliff, even though her actual life is very different.

The movie’s title is set in quotation marks to show us what Catherine is picturing in her mind, rather than what’s actually happening or what the original author, Brontë, wrote. Some believe the film represents a reader’s interpretation of the characters and their connection—explaining the quotes and the romantic feel—though this idea is still debated.

Despite Its Controversies, Wuthering Heights Can Still Succeed

A film can be hurt or helped by controversy, and it looks like Wuthering Heights will benefit from the buzz it’s getting. The movie is already a hot topic on social media, sparking curiosity – people are either genuinely interested or eager to find reasons to dislike it.

As a huge film fan, I’m really excited about the new Wuthering Heights adaptation. Not only is the story itself a classic, but it stars Margot Robbie – who’s become a massive name with Barbie – and Jacob Elordi, fresh off his work with Guillermo del Toro on Frankenstein. They both have incredibly dedicated fans, which already gives the film a huge boost. Honestly, those two alone feel like a recipe for success. Of course, it needs to do justice to the original novel, especially with any changes they’ve made, but I think it has the potential to be something really special.

Okay, so everyone’s already talking about the Wuthering Heights adaptation, and it’s proving to be pretty divisive – it’s the most talked-about one of the year so far, honestly. I think it’ll probably do well in theaters and win over some critics, but I suspect the real test will be how it lands with people who’ve actually read Emily Brontë’s novel. Those are the opinions that really matter to me, as a book and movie fan!

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2026-02-03 04:00