The first teaser for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights has landed, presenting a bold and sex-filled new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel classic.
Promising Young Woman and last year’s Saltburn director Fennell helms Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the ill-fated lovers Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff in what threatens to be a saucy reworking of the gothic romance.
The supporting cast includes Hong Chau, Martin Clunes, and up-and-comer Owen Cooper, further enriching the ensemble. The project was one of the hottest titles sought after in 2024 following the success of Saltburn on Amazon Prime, inducing industry desire. Though Netflix allegedly offered $150 million, Warner Bros won out with an $80 million acquisition, winning over Fennell and Robbie by doing so with a theatrical release.
Marketing for the film has already raised eyebrows. Billboard ads have popped up in UK and US cities with bold visuals and the provocative tagline seen in the trailer: “Drive me mad.” The campaign emphasizes the film’s unabashedly sensual tone, a move that has already sparked controversy among readers of the book.
Initial test screenings have suggested a polarized reception, with audience members calling it “aggressively provocative” and “tonally abrasive.” Perhaps most notably, one allegedly breathtaking sequence is said to include a public hanging with an X-rated twist, solidifying the film’s reputation as a transgressive adaptation.
Both Robbie and Elordi arrive on the project with considerable momentum. Robbie is still basking in the international success of Barbie and will next appear in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey with Colin Farrell. Elordi, on the other hand, is continuing to establish himself with breakout performances in Euphoria, Priscilla, and On Swift Horses, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein also lined up.
In an interview this year, Elordi complimented the production as “a true epic” with its “breathtaking performances, beautiful visuals, and incredible costumes.”
Not all fans are convinced, however. Some have criticized Elordi’s casting as Heathcliff, noting that the character is described in the novel as having dark skin. Casting director Karmel Cochrane defended the decision, stating, “You really don’t need to be accurate. It’s just a book. It’s all art.”
Wuthering Heights has been remade many times, from the 1939 classic by William Wyler to Andrea Arnold’s 2011 take. Fennell’s is likely to be the most incendiary of them all, though.
The movie comes out next Valentine’s Day.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
