As you can see from the trailer, Emerald Fennell’s risqué adaptation of Wuthering Heights draws on the 1847 novel of the same name by English author Emily Brontë as its primary inspiration, with an added dose of clear-cut eroticism. As such, it is expected to be significantly different in nature from the source but presumably faithful in essence.
In case you are not familiar with Brontë’s seminal book, its synopsis is as follows: “Lockwood, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange, situated on the bleak Yorkshire moors, is forced to seek shelter one night at Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord. There, he discovers the history of the tempestuous events that took place years before. What unfolds is the tale of the intense love between the gypsy foundling Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Catherine, forced to choose between passionate, tortured Heathcliff and gentle, well-bred Edgar Linton, surrendered to the expectations of her class. As Heathcliff’s bitterness and vengeance at his betrayal is visited upon the next generation, their innocent heirs must struggle to escape the legacy of the past.”
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Penguin Classics
“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë
“Wuthering Heights is my favorite book,” Fennell said during the preview of the teaser trailer. “I first read it when I was 14 and have read it probably every year, ever since, and then about a million times while making this film. It always struck me as the most emotionally devastating book ever written. And I think the thing that we wanted to do with this [adaptation] was make a really, truly transformative experience of a movie, something that was our kind of tribute to the golden age Hollywood romances.”
Who is in the cast of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights movie?
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Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights movie stars Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw. The director praised the Australian actor’s portrayal, calling it “one of the most devastating, beautiful, funny, touching performances of all time from her.”
Robbie is joined by fellow Australian Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. The Euphoria alum landed the role without having to audition at a time when he was debating taking a break from acting. “I was really lucky. I was going to take a break for a while, and then Emerald just very simply texted me, and you can’t run from that text,” he told IndieWire in April 2025.
