Unlocking Emerald Fennell’s Bold Twist on Wuthering Heights: What Nobody’s Telling You About This Gritty Reimagining

What happens when you throw Emerald Fennell—yes, the brilliant mind behind the edgy “Promising Young Woman”—into the stormy world of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights? Well, buckle up, because this isn’t your grandma’s Gothic romance anymore. Set against the fierce Yorkshire moors, this classic tale of Heathcliff and Catherine’s doomed love gets a fresh, fiery spin that promises to unravel the very seams of passion and pain. Imagine the raw intensity of a heavyweight title fight fused with the haunting beauty of a moody landscape—Fennell’s vision is set to shake theaters on Valentine’s Day 2026. As a guy who’s seen trends rise and fall and knows the power of storytelling, I’m buzzing to see how this adaptation mixes timeless drama with contemporary edge. Curious about who’s stepping into these iconic shoes and why the casting stirred up some fiery debate? Stick with me—I’ve got the full breakdown coming your way. LEARN MORE

A new Brontë adaptation is on the way, and Emerald Fennell is taking over the reins.

The Saltburn director has cast her eye on Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, Wuthering Heights, for her next project. The Gothic romance tells the ill-fated love story between Heathcliff and Catherine, former childhood friends who grew up on the Yorkshire moors and later embark on a passionate love affair in young adulthood. Warner Bros. is set to distribute the movie, which is set for release in early 2026.

Ahead, we break down everything to know about the adaptation.

The movie will release in theaters in February 2026.

Mark your calendars for February 14, 2026! Fennell’s take on Wuthering Heights is slated for a theatrical release on Valentine’s Day.

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi will lead the cast.

Robbie is set to play Catherine Earnshaw, a young woman torn between her first love and a man with higher social status. Meanwhile, Elordi will play Heathcliff, Catherine’s passionate love interest. Other cast members include Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton, Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, and Hong Chau as Nelly Dean.

Elordi praised the production in an April 2025 interview with Deadline. “The performances from everyone—it’s breathtaking,” the Priscilla star said. “It’s an incredible romance. It’s a true epic. It’s visually beautiful. The script is beautiful. The costumes are incredible.”

The casting sparked controversy amongst longtime fans of the book, who pointed out that Elordi’s identity as a white man is in contrast with Heathcliff, whom Brontë describes as a non-white character.

The movie poster cautions fans to “come undone.”

The first official movie poster for Wuthering Heights arrived in September 2025. The poster shows Robbie and Elordi in character, posing like the protagonists of a steamy romance novel cover. The tagline warns, “Come undone.” Fans have also spotted billboards advertising the new movie, which involved close-ups of the actors’ hands and the phrase “Drive me mad.”

The trailer is so brat.

The first official trailer, which dropped on September 3, shows Catherine and Heathcliff falling in love “again and again” to the backdrop of “Everything Is Romantic,” a track from Charli XCX’s Brat. The soundtrack—plus the many heated close-ups between Catherine and Heathcliff—already seem to promise that Fennell’s take on the novel will be the sexiest Wuthering Heights adaptation yet.