“Wuthering Heights,” published in 1847 by Emily Brontë, tells the story of the intense and often destructive love between Heathcliff, a brooding orphan, and Catherine Earnshaw, the spirited daughter of the family that takes him in. Set against the wild West Yorkshire moors, the novel explores the themes of passion, revenge, social class, nature vs. civilization and the supernatural, making it a gripping read for a wide number of audiences.
Due to the lasting popularity and cultural impact of Brontë’s novel, at least 14 film adaptations have already been made, with Oscar-winning director Emerald Fennell’s rendition being the latest and set to release on Feb. 13, 2026. Renowned for her work on cinema hits such as “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn,” critics, bookworms and fans alike highly anticipate the film.
However, what was revealed in trailers so far, such as the casting choices, music and wardrobe, has already sparked quite the controversy, with some praising it for its bold, modern, artistic vision and others criticizing it due to the blatant inaccuracies.
“Will the movie be a good adaptation? I think it depends on how you define ‘good’. Based on the trailers I’ve seen, I do not think it will be faithful to the source text,” said English teacher Ms. Morris. “The main characters (and maybe some plot lines) look like they exist, but I don’t know if I expect it to be similar to the novel at all. As a standalone movie, it might be good.”
A major issue many have with the movie is due to the casting choices. Although both Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are undoubtedly talented actors, fans take issue with Elordi’s casting specifically because Heathcliff is described as darkskinned and is alluded to be a person of color. These details are especially important to the themes of race and class within the book, and without them, critics believe the deep meaning of “Wuthering Heights” will be lost among the romance and opulence.
Morris takes a more neutral take on the matter.
“Based on the book itself, I’m not sure the actors fit the physical descriptions of the characters in the text. If this movie doesn’t aim to be faithful to the novel, I think it’s probably okay to cast people who don’t necessarily fit the source text descriptions,” Morris explains. “However, Jacob Elordi seems like he could play the tortured person that Heathcliff becomes later in the story. Similarly, Margot Robbie is a talented actress, so I bet they’ll do well with what they are given.”
Furthermore, the contemporary music choices and wardrobe greatly contrast with those of the late 1700s to early 1800s, in which “Wuthering Heights” was set. Additionally, Charli XCX is characterized by her electropop sound, and the clothing is beautiful, yet outlandishly historically inaccurate. Fennel backs up her choices by stating that the characters are intentionally dressed to nod to several periods and, most of all, the emotional elements of the story rather than the practical ones.
“My answer may surprise you, given that I am an English teacher and a lover of books. While I appreciate when films are faithful to the source text, I also think that a director reserves the right to be creative in how they choose to adapt the text,” continued Morris. “The way a text is adapted depends on what the director is trying to accomplish with their adaptation. I don’t subscribe to the fact that there have to be hard and fast rules. Film is a completely different medium from written text, so I’m not sure it’s fair to expect a movie adaptation to be completely faithful to its source text. It can’t be. Certain things can be done with words that can’t be portrayed effectively on film; conversely, there are certain things films might be able to communicate in a way that written text can’t.”
The new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights highlights the evolving nature of how classic novels are reimagined for modern audiences. While it departs significantly from Emily Brontë’s original text due to the daring casting decisions, modern music, and anachronistic wardrobe choices, it sparks important conversations about fidelity versus creative interpretation in adaptations.
As Ms. Morris insightfully notes, adaptations are distinct artistic expressions shaped by their medium and the director’s vision. This latest version may not satisfy purists seeking strict authenticity, but it offers a fresh emotional lens through which to experience a timeless story, reminding us that classic literature can continue to inspire and provoke in diverse and unexpected ways.
