What Is Going On With The Wuthering Heights Movie? 💔

Summary

In this video, Tessa dives into the upcoming 2026 adaptation of Emily Brontë's gothic classic 'Wuthering Heights,' directed by Emerald Fennel. She explores the novel's dark themes of toxic love, revenge, and obsession, while critiquing the casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Allerty, costume choices, and potential racial representation issues. Tessa also highlights Fennel's signature style of unsettling eroticism and dark humor, noting how the film appears to blend modern pop elements with period drama. While she questions some creative choices, she remains cautiously optimistic that Fennel's vision could offer a visually striking, provocative take on the story, even if it veers toward smutty Gothic fanfiction.

Takeaways

• 📖 The novel *Wuthering Heights* (1847) is a gothic classic known for its themes of toxic love, revenge, obsession, and social inequality.
• 💔 Catherine and Heathcliffe are selfish and vindictive, making readers root for them only so that others can find relief.
• 🎬 Past film and TV adaptations often simplify the story, ending with Catherine's death and ignoring the multigenerational scheming.
• 🖤 The book's complex characters, unreliable narrators, and continuous drama make faithful adaptations challenging.
• 🎥 Emerald Fennel, known for *Promising Young Woman* and *Saltburn*, is directing the 2026 adaptation, likely emphasizing dark humor, eroticism, and morally ambiguous characters.
• 👩‍🎤 Casting choices—Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Allerty as Heathcliffe—raise concerns over age and fidelity to the character's ethnic depiction.
• 👗 Costume design appears historically inconsistent, mixing elements from multiple centuries, which may affect character and world-building clarity.
• 🎵 The soundtrack includes pop contributions from Charlie XCX and may incorporate modern musical elements while keeping a period drama aesthetic.
• ⚖️ Adaptations don’t need to strictly follow the source material, but deviations can provoke criticism from fans.
• 🤔 Despite concerns, the reviewer is cautiously optimistic that Fennel’s stylistic approach could make for a visually striking and engaging adaptation.
• 📝 The video encourages audience engagement, asking viewers to share their thoughts on the new adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*.

Q & A

What are the primary concerns about the 2026 adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*?

The main concerns about the 2026 adaptation of *Wuthering Heights* include its steamy direction, unusual casting choices, and the use of a hyper-pop soundtrack, which some people feel could overshadow the darker, more gothic elements of the original story.

How did contemporary critics view *Wuthering Heights* when it was first published in 1847?

When *Wuthering Heights* was first published, contemporary critics were highly critical of it, particularly its supernatural elements, violent love story, and use of vulgar language, which were seen as inappropriate for the time.

What is the main character's background and motivation in *Wuthering Heights*?

Heathcliff, the main character, is an orphan adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw family. He befriends their daughter, Catherine, and becomes an enemy of their son, Hindley. Heathcliff's motivation throughout the story is driven by a desire for revenge against those who mistreated him, including Hindley, Catherine, and others.

Why do adaptations of *Wuthering Heights* often end before the second half of the story?

Most adaptations of *Wuthering Heights* focus on the first half of the story, which ends with Catherine's death. This is largely due to the complexity of the second half, which deals with Heathcliff's cruel schemes involving the next generation of characters. The second half is more challenging to adapt, as it shifts focus to new characters and extends the story's darker themes.

What is the significance of Heathcliff's character in terms of race and ethnicity in past adaptations?

In past adaptations, Heathcliff has often been portrayed by white actors, despite the novel's clear indication that his racial difference is a significant part of his mistreatment. Only the 2011 adaptation cast a non-white actor as Heathcliff, which is notable given that Heathcliff’s character is described as being of mixed race, with his difference from others being a key part of his struggles.

How does Emerald Fennel's filmmaking style influence her adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*?

Emerald Fennel's style, known for its unsettling eroticism, dark humor, and morally ambiguous characters, will likely bring a unique twist to her adaptation of *Wuthering Heights*. Her approach is expected to emphasize discomfort and tension, which could align well with the gothic nature of the original story.

What concerns does the casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Allordi raise in this adaptation?

The casting of Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Allordi as Heathcliff raises concerns about their age, as both actors are too old to convincingly portray characters in their teens, especially Catherine, who is supposed to die young. Additionally, some feel that casting decisions may have been influenced by the desire to make Heathcliff more physically attractive, which could detract from the character's darker traits.

How does the costume design in this adaptation compare to other period dramas?

The costumes in this adaptation of *Wuthering Heights* have been criticized for being a confusing mix of styles from different time periods, particularly Catherine’s garments, which combine elements from the 1850s, 1660s, and 1540s. This contrasts with the more cohesive period designs seen in other recent period dramas, which more clearly reflect the characters and settings.

What role does the soundtrack play in this version of *Wuthering Heights*?

The soundtrack for the 2026 adaptation is expected to feature pop songs, with Charlie XCX confirmed to contribute to the music. The use of a modern soundtrack could help set the tone for the adaptation's more contemporary approach, and fans are hoping that iconic songs like Kate Bush’s *Wuthering Heights* will make an appearance.

What is the overall reaction to the 2026 *Wuthering Heights* adaptation so far?

While there is some skepticism about the changes made in the 2026 adaptation, particularly with the casting and the use of modern music, many are still curious and optimistic. The adaptation’s gothic, steamy atmosphere and visually stunning trailers have generated excitement, even if some fans worry about the film straying too far from the novel’s original tone.