Jacob Elordi leads the cast in a fresh film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights, set to premiere in UK cinemas on February 13. Directed by Emerald Fennell, the new version revisits the intense love story of Cathy and Heathcliff, weaving the bleak Yorkshire moors into a contemporary cinematic experience that aims to captivate modern audiences.
A Revitalized Take on a Timeless Gothic Tale
First published in 1847, Wuthering Heights remains Emily Brontë’s sole novel and a cornerstone of Gothic literature, chronicling the passionate and often turbulent relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. This latest film adaptation, crafted by Oscar-winning director Emerald Fennell, stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, supported by a talented ensemble including Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Hong Chau, and Martin Clunes. The story unfolds amid the windswept moors of Haworth, West Yorkshire, where the haunting atmosphere deeply influences the narrative.
The film’s soundtrack features British singer Charli XCX, whose music enriches the production, aiming to enhance emotional depth and appeal to a new generation of viewers and readers alike.
Directorial Vision Focused on Emotional Depth
Emerald Fennell, known for her Oscar-winning screenplay for Promising Young Woman, emphasizes the emotional core of the story above all else. Her priority was to ensure that every element on screen—from performances and settings to textures and even food—carries emotional significance.
“The first thing is that everything has an emotional resonance,”
Fennell explains.
“Whether it’s the performances, the buildings, the textures, or the food, everything has an emotional reason.”
She adds,
“So it’s not just, ‘What period are we in?’ It’s more like, ‘How does this make us feel?’” – Emerald Fennell, Director
Her approach aimed to move beyond simply recreating the period, instead inviting audiences to connect deeply with the characters’ experiences and feelings.
Margot Robbie Embraces Cathy’s Intensity
Margot Robbie, who also serves as a producer on the film, faced some skepticism regarding her casting as the teenage character Cathy due to her age. To authentically embody Cathy’s raw emotional swings, Robbie tapped into memories of her own adolescence, where emotions shifted rapidly and intensely.
Reflecting on her process, Robbie says,
“In a lot of instances with Cathy, I was trying to remember my teenage self, when my hormones were wild and I’d be ecstatic one second and devastated the next.” – Margot Robbie, Actress and Producer
She describes Cathy as
“quite childish, not childlike, but childish in a great way,”
and spoke about the power of those overwhelming youthful feelings that shape the character’s longing and drive.
“I love her, I adore her and I really loved playing her. There was something in finding those big feelings you don’t yet know how to protect yourself from. In Cathy’s case, those feelings sustain her when she is longing for Heathcliff.” – Margot Robbie, Actress and Producer
Jacob Elordi Explores Heathcliff’s Complexity
Jacob Elordi, previously collaborating with Fennell on the 2023 movie Saltburn, finds the screenplay’s focus on Heathcliff and Cathy’s childhoods a compelling foundation for understanding their characters. The film opens with the younger versions of Heathcliff and Cathy, portrayed by Owen Cooper and Charlotte Mellington respectively, offering insights into their early experiences that shape the novel’s tensions.
Elordi appreciates the script’s nuanced portrayal of Heathcliff, explaining,
“I think my favourite thing about the screenplay and Heathcliff as a character and what Emerald does in the film is that you get to see where the cruelty comes from, and you get an opportunity to understand that the lens she puts on Heathcliff isn’t damning.” – Jacob Elordi, Actor
“It’s explanatory. It’s almost relieving for him. So I think the screenplay helped me bring all of that into it.” – Jacob Elordi, Actor
The actor also describes the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff as central to revealing Heathcliff’s softer side amid his often hardened exterior.
“You catch him in these steely moments and then Margot will skip across the screen as Cathy, and the way Emerald shoots it, he just comes to life.” – Jacob Elordi, Actor
Shazad Latif Portrays a More Dimensional Edgar Linton
Shazad Latif takes on the role of Edgar Linton, Cathy’s wealthy suitor whose social standing contrasts sharply with Heathcliff’s background. Influenced by Fennell’s direction, Latif’s Edgar emerges as a credible emotional rival rather than a mere foil.
Recalling discussions with the director, Latif notes,
“I remember Emerald saying in those older film versions, he’s a bit of a milquetoast.” – Shazad Latif, Actor
She aimed to present Edgar as loyal, kind, and genuinely loved by Cathy, creating a believable love triangle dynamic.
“She said ‘I want to make him a credible threat’. It’s not that he’s just rich, it’s that he’s loyal and kind and gentle and a viable option. In the sense that she does love him and it is a real love, but it’s just that the other one’s sort of too strong.” – Shazad Latif, Actor
“We wanted to create that love triangle, because if you buy into that – she’s talking about Brief Encounter and The End Of The Affair – if you buy into the triangle properly, and the cuckold character is [the one] you empathise with a little bit, it works. It makes their story better.” – Shazad Latif, Actor
He applauds Fennell’s laid-back set atmosphere that helped ease the actors’ nerves during filming.
“She eased the pressure. She was not stressed. She was fun. She’s calm, and that makes you then kind of [feel as though] we’re just playing around on set.” – Shazad Latif, Actor
Hong Chau Brings Depth to Nelly Dean’s Role
Hong Chau portrays Nelly Dean, Cathy’s maid and close confidante, whose pragmatic perspective offers a counterbalance to the tempestuous drama surrounding the main characters. Chau values Fennell’s background as an actress, which influenced her directing style and fostered a collaborative environment for the cast.
“She has a way of understanding actors, because she’s acted herself.” – Hong Chau, Actress
“I think she just brought us all together, and we did some cast rehearsals, not rehearsing the script necessarily, but just sitting around, talking, and discussing.” – Hong Chau, Actress
Chau describes Nelly’s complicated bond with Cathy as akin to a sibling rivalry blending affection and frustration.
“She is definitely a person who is probably most like the audience, where she’s the most sensible one of the group and not judgmental, but definitely tries to steer Cathy in the proper direction. And of course, that doesn’t go that way.” – Hong Chau, Actress
A New Generation Engages with a Literary Classic
With its February release, this adaptation of Wuthering Heights aspires to rekindle interest in Emily Brontë’s masterpiece for today’s audiences. Fennell expresses hope that the film will encourage viewers to seek out the original novel.
“If anyone watches this film and then wants to go and read the book, I think we’ll feel like we’ve done our job.” – Emerald Fennell, Director
“I truly believe it’s the greatest book ever written, and I think she is a transcendent genius.” – Emerald Fennell, Director
By spotlighting the emotional truth behind each character’s journey and grounding the story in a vivid Yorkshire setting, the film hopes to bridge the gap between classic literature and contemporary cinema, inviting a wider and more diverse audience to experience one of the English literary canon’s most enduring tales.
