Jacob Elordi has garnered critical acclaim for several recent roles, culminating in his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 film Frankenstein. The movie itself earned nine Academy Award nods, reflecting its wide recognition. Margot Robbie, who reunites with Elordi in the upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, recently expressed her candid thoughts on Frankenstein, sharing a perspective that highlights the artistic resurgence of Gothic storytelling.
Margot Robbie Praises Guillermo del Toro’s Vision on Frankenstein
In an interview with CBR’s Grae Drake, Margot Robbie revealed that Guillermo del Toro had shown her an earlier cut of Frankenstein, leaving a strong impression. Robbie said she was “blown away” by what she saw, expressing deep admiration for the film’s craftsmanship.
Robbie emphasized the current resurgence of Gothic themes in cinema, describing it as a revival of “emotional storytelling” intricately paired with distinct aesthetics. She noted that this revival is thrilling, especially for filmmakers and their teams, who get to showcase their skills on a grand scale.
“There’s a real resurgence of the Gothic right now. It’s so fun. And I can see why, because it’s really emotional storytelling with (an) aesthetic in lockstep, and really utilizing people’s craft and skills on a big scale. That is so exciting,”
Robbie shared.
She further added that the excitement surrounding this genre extends to all departments involved in filmmaking, affirming her enthusiasm and trust in Guillermo del Toro’s work.
“And why wouldn’t that be exciting to filmmakers, and heads of each of their departments? So I’m loving it. I love what Guillermo is doing, and has always done. I love what Emerald’s doing,”
Robbie stated.
Jacob Elordi also joined the discussion, describing the pairing of Frankenstein and the forthcoming Wuthering Heights as a “great double feature” due to their shared Gothic roots but distinct thematic directions. Robbie humorously summed up their collaboration by saying it is “just a lot of Jacob.”
The Impact and Reception of Frankenstein
Frankenstein premiered to acclaim at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival before its limited release in theaters and subsequent arrival on Netflix on November 7. The film has been regarded as a long-standing dream project for director Guillermo del Toro, whose vision brought a contemporary scientific thriller to life.
Set in a modern context, Frankenstein explores the story of a scientist’s ambitious experiment to create life, which leads to unexpected consequences. The narrative deeply investigates the moral and ethical challenges faced by the creator and his sentient creation, addressing complex themes of ambition and the repercussions of pushing scientific boundaries.
The film has been well received by critics and audiences alike, boasting an 85% approval rating among critics and an outstanding 94% audience score, both earning acclaimed Certified Fresh and Verified Hot badges. It secured several Oscar nominations, including one for Best Supporting Actor for Elordi’s portrayal of the Creature, along with a nod for Best Picture. The success of Frankenstein highlights Guillermo del Toro’s continued ability to blend genre storytelling with profound emotional resonance.
Controversy and Artistic Liberties in the Upcoming Wuthering Heights
The upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic Gothic novel, tentatively titled “Wuthering Heights,” is already generating debate due to its unconventional approach. The director, Emerald Fennell, openly acknowledges that this version diverges significantly from the original 1847 text, choosing instead to create a personalized interpretation.
Fennell explained to Fandango that an exact adaptation is impossible given the book’s complexity and density.
“The book means so much to me, and it means so, so much to so many people,”
she said.
“The thing for me is that you can’t adapt a book as dense and complicated and difficult as this book. I can’t say I’m making Wuthering Heights. It’s not possible. What I can say is I’m making a version of it.”
She acknowledged that this film both is and isn’t Wuthering Heights, admitting to including elements that diverge from the original story as she remembered it, sometimes incorporating events that never occurred in the book.
“There’s a version that I remember reading that isn’t quite real. And there’s a version where I wanted stuff to happen that never happened. And so it is Wuthering Heights, and it isn’t,”
Fennell clarified.
Exploring Casting Choices and Mixed Reviews for Wuthering Heights
The film stars Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, marking another collaboration for the two actors. Fennell and Robbie have worked together previously on projects such as Barbie and Promising Young Woman, with Robbie also producing the latter. Meanwhile, Fennell and Elordi teamed up for the controversial Saltburn.
The casting of a non-white Heathcliff attracted particular attention, given that Heathcliff’s racial background is traditionally tied to one of the character’s defining aspects of anguish and outsider status. This choice, along with the film’s emphasis on romance and costume design, has sparked debate about the adaptation’s faithfulness and intentions.
Initial reactions praised the adaptation’s bold choices, with some critics suggesting that the changes effectively modernize and add relevance to the story. However, the film’s critical reception has been lukewarm overall, debuting at a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 75 reviews, with no audience score yet available. It remains to be seen how these ratings might evolve as more critics weigh in.
Availability and Future Prospects
Following the success of Frankenstein on Netflix, which is currently available for streaming, audiences eagerly await the release of Wuthering Heights. The latter will premiere in theaters on February 13, 2026, presenting viewers with a distinctly different Gothic experience that contrasts the sci-fi horror of Frankenstein.
Margot Robbie’s candid views on Frankenstein shine a light on the continuing appeal of Gothic storytelling within the cinematic landscape. With Elordi and Robbie appearing together in two high-profile Gothic productions, their careers intersect intriguingly in this evolving genre, reflecting both the risks and rewards filmmakers face when reimagining classic tales for modern audiences.
