The initial trailer for Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of *Wuthering Heights* has been released, showcasing longing glances, palpable sexual tension, and even a scene of bread kneading.
Fennell, celebrated for her Oscar-winning screenplay for *Promising Young Woman* (2021), also directed the provocative 2023 thriller *Saltburn*, which sparked viral interest due to its memorable bathtub and graveyard sequences.
Now, Fennell is turning her attention to Emily Brontë’s timeless 1847 novel, featuring a cast including Margot Robbie (known for *Barbie*), Jacob Elordi (*Saltburn*), and Owen Cooper (*Adolescence*).
Viewers familiar with *Saltburn* may recognize Fennell’s distinctive artistic choices in the brief clip, which appears to lean into a more overt eroticism than the original gothic novel.
The trailer includes a shot of a shirtless Elordi laboring outdoors, suggestive handling of dough, and symbolic treatment of broken eggs.
Furthermore, the footage conveys suppressed desires through tight corsets, lingering shots of the main characters, and evocative imagery of the Yorkshire Dales landscape.
The film tells a story of fervent passion and revenge, remaining faithful to the core narrative of the destructive, obsessive love between Catherine Earnshaw and the adopted Heathcliff.
The adaptation also delves into themes of social class and the complex relationships between the Earnshaw and Linton families, two wealthy landowning families in Yorkshire.
Last year, Fennell’s project was highly sought after, with reports indicating that Netflix offered $150 million (£111 million) for the rights, according to *Variety*.
Ultimately, Warner Bros. secured the rights, reportedly paying $80 million (£59 million) with the guarantee of a theatrical release and substantial marketing support.
The film is scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day of next year, but promotional billboards bearing the tagline “drive me mad,” which is also featured in the trailer, have already appeared in the UK and the US.
The film’s soundtrack will feature original songs by Charli XCX and a score composed by Anthony Willis.
During a promotional tour, Jacob Elordi, who also played a prominent role in *Saltburn*, told *Deadline*, “It’s an incredible romance, it’s a true epic, it’s visually beautiful. The script is beautiful, the costumes are incredible.”
“The performances from everyone – it’s breathtaking,” he added.
The casting of Elordi as Heathcliff, who is described as having dark skin in the novel, has generated some debate.
Casting director Kharmel Cochrane defended the choice, telling *Deadline*: “You really don’t need to be accurate. It’s just a book. That is not based on real life. It’s all art.”
*Wuthering Heights* has been adapted for the screen numerous times. In the 1939 adaptation, Heathcliff was played by a white actor, while the 2011 version featured a black actor in the role.
This casting decision has fueled social media discussion around the trailer, with some commentators pointing out that the book’s eroticism relies on the absence of explicit sexual encounters, and labeling the trailer as “50 Shades of Bronte.”
The original novel also served as inspiration for Kate Bush’s iconic song of the same name, which topped the charts in 1978 when she was just 18.
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi will play Cathy and Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation.
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