Critics are voicing their displeasure regarding the casting choices in the upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, respectively. Directed by Emerald Fennell, this version of the classic Emily Brontë novel is set against the backdrop of the moody Yorkshire moors. Despite the high-profile nature of the leading actors, their casting has sparked criticism among film enthusiasts.
Clarisse Loughrey, a film critic for the Independent, posed the question, “Did anyone actually read the book before deciding this?” highlighting that Catherine is depicted as a teenager in the novel, while Heathcliff is described as having a “dark-skinned” appearance.
TV and film critic Gavia Baker-Whitelaw remarked sarcastically on the age disparity, noting that the characters of Heathcliff and a 34-year-old Cathy seem more suited for social media than for Brontë’s tale.
Critic and editor Maggie Boccella expressed her frustration, stating that it is “painfully” clear that Fennell is not prioritizing the novel’s themes. She suggested that Fennell is focused on creating a superficial love story aimed at attracting audiences through recognizable names.
Emerald Fennell, an Oscar winner for her film Promising Young Woman, previously achieved success with Saltburn, in which Elordi starred. While Robbie has produced these films, Wuthering Heights will mark her first performance in a film directed by Fennell. Currently, she is pregnant, and reports indicate that filming for the new adaptation will commence in the UK next year.