Actor Jacob Elordi was rushed to the hospital after suffering second-degree burns during a filming accident, as he shared in a recent interview. The 28-year-old, starring as Heathcliff in the upcoming romantic drama Wuthering Heights, experienced the injury while preparing off-set but said the incident disrupted the film’s production.
The film, inspired by Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, features Margot Robbie alongside Elordi and explores a dark, intense love story. The Jacob Elordi filming accident occurred at a home where Elordi was staying during the shoot, adding an unexpected challenge to the project’s demanding atmosphere.
The Scalding Incident and Its Circumstances
Elordi explained that the accident happened in a house equipped with a steam shower, where a brass knob emitted scalding steam. The injury took place after a conversation with the film’s makeup artist, Siãn Miller, who was responsible for creating realistic scars on Elordi’s character Heathcliff’s back.
In a moment of dark humor, Miller joked that if legendary method actor Daniel Day-Lewis were playing Heathcliff, he would arrive with real scars. Responding to this, Elordi said,
“Well I’m going to go away and maim myself on the weekend to prove to you that I’m Heathcliff!”
Jacob Elordi
Determined to take better care of his skin this time, Elordi attempted to clean himself more thoroughly than he had on a previous shoot for Frankenstein, when he left makeup residue on his body for days. However, while leaning back to wash his feet in the steam shower, his back came into sudden, painful contact with the steam knob, causing severe burns and forcing him to scream from the pain.
Elordi revealed,
“So I went to clean my feet, and I leant back and my back seared into the steam knob and I stood up screaming; it tore up my back. When I went to work on Monday I had a second degree burn.”
Jacob Elordi
Director’s Reaction and Production Impact
Emerald Fennell, the director of Wuthering Heights, said she learned of the injury through a brief, alarming message. She recounted,
“Jacob’s in the hospital.”
Emerald Fennell
Initially fearing a serious car accident, Fennell was relieved but still concerned to discover that Elordi had suffered burns in the shower. She said,
“Oh my god, he’s had a car accident,”
before learning,
“He’s burnt his back in the shower.”
Emerald Fennell
Despite the incident, the production continued, and Elordi’s injury did not halt filming for long, though it contributed to some delays during the shoot as he recovered.
Wuthering Heights’ Anticipated Release and Box Office Prospects
Wuthering Heights is set to premiere on February 13, with strong pre-sales suggesting a promising $30 million to $35 million domestic opening weekend. This would mark the biggest box office debut of Jacob Elordi’s career and Margot Robbie’s first major hit since 2023’s Barbie.
The film also stars actors Shazad Latif, Hong Chau, Alison Oliver, Charlotte Mellington, and Owen Cooper. It is co-produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment, a production company behind 2023 successes including Barbie and Saltburn.
Margot Robbie manages LuckyChap with her husband, Tom Ackerley, who recently welcomed a baby boy in October 2024, adding a personal milestone amidst the film’s production timeline.
Jacob Elordi’s Current Projects and Public Appearances
Alongside promoting Wuthering Heights, Jacob Elordi is involved in other projects, including Frankenstein, which he recently discussed in a BAFTA Q&A hosted by Netflix. His growing body of work highlights his range, from intense dramatic roles to mainstream hits, even as he navigates unexpected hazards like the filming accident.
The March/April issue of Esquire UK, featuring Elordi’s interview with additional insights, releases on February 18.
