Some people are worried about Wuthering Heights. It shaped up to be one of the most controversial releases of 2026. Thanks to its steamy direction, controversial casting, and hyperpop soundtracks.
The Source Material
The original “Wuthering Heights” novel was first published back in 1847, and contemporary critics didn’t really look upon it very positively. Many took issue with the supernatural elements, the destructive love story, the cycles of revenge, the vulgar language, and the social impropriety.
Unlike in the film, directed by Emerald Fennel, the novel wasn’t overt when it came to sexual nature. Its emphasis on passion and desire, which was combined with violence and obsession, was already scandalous for the time. Many recent adaptations have seen the eroticism upped in each one. This highlights how nineteenth-century readers would have perceived the story and its characters.
“Wuthering Heights” was written by Emily Brontë under a pen name. The story has since become a Gothic classic. Being considered along with the likes of Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. The story served as inspiration for many interpretations. While the 1992, 1998, and 2009 versions are widely considered better iterations than 2026. Most fans agree there has yet to be a perfect adaptation.
The Original Plot
There’s a debate on who the main character is, as we are told much of the story by Nelly Dean. He is played by Hong Chau in the 2026 film. But many agree that Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), an orphan who is adopted by the wealthy Earnshaw (Martin Clunes), is the main character. It is during his time with them that he befriends their daughter, Catherine (Margot Robbie), and subsequently makes an enemy of their son, Hindley (Ewan Mitchell). After Mr. Earnshaw dies, Hindley inherits the estate and forces Heathcliff to become a servant, doing everything in his power to make him feel like an inferior.
Even though she is in love with Heathcliff, Catherine decides to marry the more socially acceptable Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif). Heathcliff runs away in anger to make his fortune, swearing revenge on all who have wronged him. Years later, he returns as a wealthy gentleman and, through a series of schemes, brings about Hindley’s financial ruin and marries Edgar’s sister, Isabella (Alison Oliver), whom he does not treat very well.
After Catherine’s death from childbirth, Heathcliffe becomes even more cruel. Decades later, he continues his vendetta by redirecting his anger towards the next generation living on the Moors, forcing his son to marry Catherine’s daughter. As time passes, Heathcliff descends into madness and begins seeing visions of Catherine’s ghost. Whether it’s the result of guilt, grief, or desperation, he refuses to eat, wastes away, and dies.
Criticism From the Beginning
Now that we’ve gone over the general plot of the novel, let’s get into some of the controversies that have appeared since the announcement of this film, along with when its trailer was released and even during the premiere.
First objections were heard around July 2024, when the news broke that Fennell, who wrote and directed Saltburn and the 2021 Oscar-winning screenplay Promising Young Woman, would direct. Both films also suffered backlash. Fennel was accused of style over substance. The films were meant to tackle serious subjects, like sexual assault and class war. However, they fell back on stylish color schemes, unsurprising twists, and soundtracks with pop hits. The worry was that Fennel’s adaptation would be more of the same.
Criticism only increased around September 2024, when Robbie and Elordi were confirmed as the book’s main characters. One of the biggest talking points was the section that covers their intense romance and how Heathcliff was in his teens. Robbie and Elordi are now 35 and 28, respectively.
Another factor is that Robbie has kept her straight blonde hair rather than dying it for the “brown ringlets” mentioned in the novel.
Casting Criticism
Most notably, Heathcliff is said to have a darker skin complexion. Which leads some scholars to propose that he isn’t white. His non-whiteness is the reason he is othered and mistreated in the story. This has led some to think Fennel is whitewashing the character or missing the point by casting Elordi as the leading man.
Robbie and Elordi are not the first actors to be older and whiter than Cathy and Heathcliff. Lawrence Oliver and Merle Oberon were 32 and 28 when the 1939 film came out. It seems that times have changed, and audiences are more sensitive to whitewashing and inauthenticity than before.
“Taj Mahal Diamond” Controversy
We also must mention the controversy surrounding Robbie at the premiere of the film. She wore the “Taj Mahal Diamond,” which was previously “owned” by Elizabeth Taylor, given to her by her husband Richard Burton. It has a long history that dates back to being originally for a Mughal-era emperor in India. Many called the necklace stolen and want it returned to its rightful owners.
What Will Come?
With all of that, the film came out on February 13. We are sure this will not be the last we hear from the audience and critics. And time will tell how well it does. Let’s hope the film can stay out of the headlines for anymore controversial reasons.
