Emerald Fennell Aims for a Modern Epic with Wuthering Heights
Emerald Fennell sets her sights high for her Wuthering Heights adaptation, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, promising a visually arresting and emotionally charged cinematic experience.
Emerald Fennell, the creative force behind the forthcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, has set out to craft a film that leaves a lasting impression on audiences. Margot Robbie, who takes on the role of Cathy, recently shared insights into Fennell’s ambitions for the project.
“It’s a literary classic, visually stunning and emotionally resonant,”
Robbie remarked in an interview. She recalled an early conversation with Fennell, asking about her ultimate vision for the film.
“She said, ‘I want this to be this generation’s Titanic. I went to the cinema to watch Romeo & Juliet eight times and I was on the ground crying when I wasn’t allowed to go back for a ninth. I want it to be that.’”
Fennell’s reference to Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo & Juliet and James Cameron’s Titanic highlights her aspiration to create a film that resonates as deeply as those iconic love stories.
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
In this new interpretation, Margot Robbie stars as Cathy, with Jacob Elordi portraying Heathcliff. The cast also features Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton, Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, Charlotte Mellington as Young Cathy, and Owen Cooper as Young Heathcliff. The film’s atmosphere is further enhanced by an original soundtrack from Charli xcx, promising a contemporary edge to the classic tale.
Wuthering Heights, originally penned by Emily Brontë, is renowned for its exploration of intense, forbidden love and the destructive power of obsession. Fennell’s adaptation seeks to honour the novel’s gothic roots while offering a fresh perspective for today’s viewers.
A Timeless Story Reimagined
The film’s official description calls it
“A bold and original imagining of one of the greatest love stories of all time, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another turns from romantic to intoxicating in an epic tale of lust, love and madness.”
This approach suggests a focus on the raw emotional intensity that has made Brontë’s work endure for generations.
By drawing inspiration from cinematic milestones like Titanic and Romeo & Juliet, Fennell aims to deliver a film that is both visually striking and emotionally powerful. The hope is to create a cultural touchstone for a new generation, much as those earlier films did in their time.
Anticipation Builds for Release
Audiences can look forward to the release of Wuthering Heights in cinemas on 14 February 2026. Until then, film enthusiasts may wish to keep an eye on other upcoming releases scheduled for 2025 and beyond, as anticipation for Fennell’s vision continues to grow.