Emerald Fennell Aims for Epic Romance With Wuthering Heights Adaptation
Director Emerald Fennell sets her sights high for her Wuthering Heights adaptation, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, hoping to create a film as unforgettable and visually breathtaking as Titanic for a new generation.
Emerald Fennell, the filmmaker behind the upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, has a bold vision for her take on Emily Brontë’s classic. According to Margot Robbie, who leads the cast, Fennell wants her film to leave a mark on audiences much like Titanic did decades ago. Robbie shared,
“It’s a literary classic, visually stunning and emotionally resonant. In one of our first conversations about this film, I asked Emerald what her dream outcome was. 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 Romeo & Juliet and James Cameron’s Titanic highlights her ambition to craft a sweeping, emotional experience centered on star-crossed lovers.
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
Margot Robbie steps into the role of 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 soundtrack will include original music by Charli xcx, adding a modern touch to the period drama.
This adaptation draws from Brontë’s Gothic novel, a cornerstone of English literature, which explores the intense, forbidden bond between Cathy and Heathcliff. Their tumultuous relationship, marked by passion and heartbreak, reverberates across generations, making the story both timeless and haunting.
A New Take on a Timeless Love Story
The film’s official description promises,
“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.”
Fennell’s approach aims to capture the raw emotion and visual splendor that made Titanic a cultural phenomenon, while staying true to the dark, romantic spirit of Brontë’s novel.
Anticipation Builds for 2026 Release
Wuthering Heights is set to hit theaters on February 14, 2026, promising a visually arresting and emotionally charged cinematic experience. Until then, movie fans can look forward to a packed slate of upcoming releases through 2025 and beyond, with Fennell’s adaptation already generating significant buzz.