Is Wuthering Heights a romance? Update on Margot Robbie movie controversy

by

The upcoming film ‘Wuthering Heights,’ starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is highly anticipated, but some are questioning how closely it follows the original story as its release date approaches.

Wuthering Heights is Emerald Fennell’s third movie, after the critically acclaimed Promising Young Woman and the provocative Saltburn.

Her next film is an adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, which was originally published in 1847 and has been made into a movie or TV show many times before.

Margot Robbie stars as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in the upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which releases on February 13th, right before Valentine’s Day. However, it’s likely not a typical romantic choice for a date night.

Is Wuthering Heights a romance?

While Wuthering Heights is often considered a romance, the connection between Catherine and Heathcliff is far more intense and troubled than a typical love story.

This story really dives into the wild relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff. Catherine is this super headstrong, fiery, and spontaneous person, but she just clashes with Heathcliff. He’s this really intense, brooding guy who grew up with her as an orphan, and they’re just totally different personalities. It’s a recipe for drama, honestly!

The story delves into a consuming and harmful love affair. When the relationship crumbles – and Catherine chooses to marry Edgar Linton for social standing and safety – it triggers a chain of painful events, including bitterness, retaliation, and lasting emotional damage that affects future generations.

Wuthering Heights mixes chilling horror with intense psychological drama. While emotionally powerful, the story deconstructs the idea of perfect love and ultimately feels less like a romance and more like a cautionary tale about unhealthy relationships.

It’s strange and a bit misleading that the trailer for this new version of Wuthering Heights describes it as “the greatest love story.”

Backlash to Margot Robbie movie explained

Wuthering Heights explores the powerful and consuming nature of love. Because readers are so passionate about Emily Brontë’s novel, any changes to the story or its characters often receive strong criticism.

When Margot Robbie, age 35, was chosen to play the teenage Cathy, and Jacob Elordi was cast as her lover, who was described as having dark skin and being of Romani heritage, some fans questioned the authenticity of the casting choices. Casting director Kharmel Cochrane responded in an interview with The Guardian, stating that strict accuracy isn’t necessary because the story is a work of fiction and ultimately an artistic interpretation, not a depiction of real events.

The first trailer sparked further criticism for several historical inaccuracies. Viewers pointed out that Catherine’s wedding dress was white – a color not typically worn for weddings at that time – and that the actors had modern, perfectly white teeth. The use of a Charli XCX song was also criticized as being too out of place for the period.

As a big fan of the book, I totally get what Emerald Fennell means when she talked to The Hollywood Reporter. She basically said that because everyone connects with the story in their own way, any movie version is really just one person’s interpretation of what they pictured while reading it. It’s like, you can only bring your own imagination to life on screen, and that’s okay!

She believes the movie’s strength lies in its timelessness, suggesting it could be successfully remade annually with fresh perspectives. She feels a new version each year would remain both impactful and engaging.

Initial test screenings of the film sparked varied responses. World of Reel noted it contained more sexual content and was more explicit than any prior version of the story.

One person described it as harsh and unsettling, fitting with Emerald Fennell’s established style of glamorous but disturbing storytelling.

Fennell approached the adaptation from a deeply personal perspective, explaining that the book is her all-time favorite. Like many devoted fans, she felt immediately that any film version could never fully capture the book’s brilliance.

She finished by explaining that her only goal was to create a film that captured the same emotional impact the original book had on her.

Wuthering Heights will be released in theaters on February 13, 2026. If you’re looking for some great romantic comedies, check out our list of the top 10. You can also find a complete list of this month’s big movie releases here.

Read More

2026-02-09 14:49