Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights Adaptation Sparks Debate with Casting Choices
Emerald Fennell, the acclaimed director behind Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, has unveiled intriguing details about her upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel Wuthering Heights. Speaking at a conversation event at the BFI Southbank in London, Fennell shared that Margot Robbie proactively requested the lead role of Cathy Earnshaw after reading the script, a move that has since ignited significant scrutiny and scepticism among critics and fans alike.
Robbie's Bold Request and Casting Controversy
Fennell disclosed that she sent the script to Robbie's production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, which is producing the film. Margot Robbie, who co-founded LuckyChap in 2014, immediately expressed interest in portraying Cathy. "I sent it to them to produce, and Margot luckily asked if she might play Cathy," Fennell explained. She admitted feeling nervous about asking Robbie directly due to their professional relationship, noting, "I was very nervous to ask her, because I think we have a different relationship, and I didn't want to put her on the spot. She's braver than me. She asked me."
However, this casting decision has faced criticism for departing from the original 1847 novel. In Brontë's work, Cathy is depicted as a teenager, while Robbie is 35 years old. Additionally, the casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff has been questioned, as the character is described in the book as having "Gypsy" and "Lascar" (South Asian) heritage, which plays a crucial role in the story's themes of prejudice.
Fennell's Defence and Creative Vision
In response to the backlash, Fennell defended her approach, emphasising that her adaptation aims to capture the emotional essence of the novel rather than a literal translation. "I can't adapt the book as it is but I can approximate the way it made me feel," she stated. This sentiment was echoed by casting director Kharmel Cochrane at the Sands film festival in Scotland last summer, who remarked that "there's no need to be accurate" and it's "just a book," highlighting a modern, interpretive stance on classic literature.
Fennell's directorial style, known for its daring and provocative social commentary, continues in this film. She expressed that Wuthering Heights needs to "provoke a sort of primal response," suggesting an intense, visceral experience for audiences. The film is set to premiere on 5 February in London's Leicester Square, with a UK-wide release on 13 February, coinciding with Valentine's weekend.
Unique Set Designs and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
The director also revealed fascinating details about the film's production design, which includes unconventional elements to deepen character connections. For instance, the wallpaper in Cathy's bedroom was inspired by images of Margot Robbie's skin. "We asked her to send us all her veins and her freckles, and then we printed it on silk and stuffed it and put latex over it so that it could sweat," Fennell described. "At first glance, you don't see any of it, it's just a beautiful pink room. It's like a visual example of what it feels like to be made a wife, to be made an object of beauty, to be a collector's item."
Additionally, Fennell created shrines in the bedrooms of Elordi and Robbie to mimic the infatuation between their characters. "I was like: 'I'm going to go through the internet, I'm going to find their best photos and then I'm going to make shrines in their bedrooms for each other,'" she said. "So when Jacob went into his room, he had an insane shrine to worship not just Cathy, but Margot Robbie and then she had the same thing. There's nothing more humanising than somebody's first press photo."
Soundtrack and Critical Reception
Fennell also discussed collaborating with musician Charli XCX on the film's soundtrack. Despite Charli XCX being in the midst of her busy "brat" tour, she eagerly agreed to contribute after reading the script. "She called me and said: 'What do you want?' I said: 'Well, a song would be nice.' And she said: 'How about an album?' And I was like: 'Yeah, cool,'" Fennell recalled. She praised the result as "my favourite album I've ever, ever heard in my life. She just got it."
The film had its first premiere in Los Angeles on 28 January, where early critics described it with terms like "intoxicating, transcendent, tantalising, bewitching, lust worthy, hypnotic." Full reviews are embargoed until 8 February, building anticipation for this bold reinterpretation of a literary classic.
