Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' Trailer Ignites a Fiery Debate Over Brontë's Classic

The first full-length trailer for Emerald Fennell's highly anticipated Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has dropped, and it's anything but a quiet stroll on the West Yorkshire moors. Get ready for a passionate, provocative ride.

TL;DR: The Latest on Fennell's Bold 'Wuthering Heights'

• Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is set to hit U.S. theaters on February 13, 2026, just in time for Valentine's Weekend.
• The recently released official trailer promises a "steamy" and "bold" adaptation, featuring a new, moody song titled "Chains of Love" from Charli xcx's accompanying concept album.
• This film is already generating significant buzz and strong reactions among fans due to its overtly provocative tone, specific casting choices, and the marketing's daring claim of it being "the greatest love story of all time."

Is This Truly "The Greatest Love Story of All Time" or Something More Complicated?

When the full-length trailer for Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights landed on November 13, 2025, it came with a bold declaration: "the greatest love story of all time." This tagline, displayed prominently, immediately set the internet ablaze. Fans of Emily Brontë's 1847 novel reacted with everything from excited anticipation to outright skepticism.

Many classic literature aficionados quickly questioned the romanticized framing. One Instagram commenter quipped, "Calling it 'the greatest love story of all time' is so funny man everyone in Wuthering Heights hates each other." This highlights a central tension: Brontë's original narrative, while undeniably passionate, is also deeply rooted in cruelty, obsession, and vengeance.

A Provocative and Sensual New Vision for Brontë's Timeless Tale

If you're expecting a staid period drama à la Downton Abbey, prepare yourself. Fennell's take on Wuthering Heights leans decidedly more into the raw, intense, and often dark emotions, making it feel "more Bridgerton than Downton Abbey." (Source: Deadline, 'Wuthering Heights' Trailer: Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi In Emerald Fennell's Steamy Adaptation, November 13, 2025)

The new footage is set against Charli xcx's "Chains of Love," a new song written specifically for the feature film. Visually, the trailer delivers on the promise of an "erotically charged" adaptation. Scenes flash between establishing shots of the West Yorkshire moors and very intimate moments: a bare, sweaty back; a shirtless Jacob Elordi handling hay; hands kneading bread with visceral intensity; fingers running through egg yolks; and even Margot Robbie's Catherine putting her fingers in Heathcliff's mouth. It culminates in Elordi's Heathcliff uttering the iconic, desperate line to Cathy: "So kiss me, and let us both be damned."

Unpacking the Star-Studded Cast and The Creative Force Behind This Adaptation

At the heart of this adaptation are Margot Robbie as the tempestuous Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as the brooding, vengeful Heathcliff. Their casting was announced earlier, building significant anticipation for their on-screen chemistry, described as "red-hot pairing" with "onscreen romantic combustion." (Source: Deadline, 'Wuthering Heights' Trailer: Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi In Emerald Fennell's Steamy Adaptation, November 13, 2025)

The supporting cast features a talented ensemble: Hong Chau steps into the role of Nelly Dean, while Shazad Latif plays Edgar Linton, Catherine's wealthy husband. Alison Oliver is Isabella Linton, and Martin Clunes and Ewan Mitchell also feature. The younger versions of Cathy and Heathcliff are portrayed by Charlotte Mellington and Owen Cooper, respectively, providing a glimpse into their intertwined childhoods.

Behind the camera, Emerald Fennell is the driving force, serving as writer, director, and producer. This marks her third collaboration with Robbie's production company, LuckyChap, following the critically acclaimed Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, for which Fennell won an Oscar for original screenplay. Producing alongside Fennell and Robbie is Josey McNamara, with Tom Ackerley and Sara Desmond serving as executive producers. Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group secured the distribution rights in a competitive bidding war.

The Stormy Debate Over Heathcliff's Distinctive Portrayal

Fennell's adaptation hasn't been without its share of controversy, notably concerning the casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. In Emily Brontë's novel, Heathcliff is vividly described with specific physical characteristics, often referred to as a "dark-skinned gipsy" and a "lascar," a dated term for a sailor from India or Southeast Asia. These descriptions are crucial to the novel's exploration of class, social standing, and racialized dynamics within the adopted Earnshaw family, where Heathcliff faces routine abuse and bullying.

Fennell faced backlash for casting a white actor in this role, with critics arguing it obscures a core aspect of Heathcliff's identity and the novel's commentary. However, Fennell has defended her choices. Speaking at the Brontë Women's Writing Festival, she stated that Elordi "had the thing" about him to play Heathcliff, finding him a "very surprising actor." She also praised Robbie, suggesting she "could get away with anything" like Catherine, possessing "an otherworldly power" that makes people "lose their minds." (Source: Yahoo, Fans Have Mixed Reactions to ‘Wuthering Heights’ Trailer With Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, November 13, 2025)

This situation highlights a common tension in adaptations: how much should a filmmaker adhere to the source material's explicit descriptions versus interpreting characters to fit a new artistic vision? While some viewers feel strongly about maintaining the original racial identity of Heathcliff, Fennell appears to have prioritized a more enigmatic "essence" she saw in Elordi's performance.

Emerald Fennell's Candid Insights into the Novel's Darker, More Illicit Side

Jacob Elordi himself has spoken glowingly about the production, telling Deadline that "The performances from everyone – it’s breathtaking. It’s an incredible romance. It’s a true epic. It’s visually beautiful. The script is beautiful. The costumes are incredible." (Source: Deadline, Margot Robbie And Jacob Elordi To Star In Emerald Fennell’s Adaptation Of ‘Wuthering Heights’ From MRC And LuckyChap, September 3, 2025)

Fennell herself has been upfront about her provocative approach, acknowledging the "enormous amount of sado-masochism in this book" and describing the material as "very illicit." (Source: The Guardian, Wuthering Heights: bold new trailer for Emerald Fennell’s epic adaptation, November 13, 2025) She admitted reading the novel at 14 "cracked me open" and that adapting it was "an act of extreme masochism." Test screenings have reportedly reflected this boldness, with one attender calling the adaptation "aggressively provocative and tonally abrasive," citing a scene with "a public hanging in which the condemned man ejaculates mid-execution."

For some viewers, this explicit interpretation risks "desvirtuando" (distorting) the classic. However, Fennell argues that the novel itself was "deeply shocked" people in its time. Her goal isn't just to retell but to unearth the raw, unsettling power she believes lies beneath the surface of Brontë's work. It's a trade-off: some purists may be alienated, but others will appreciate a more visceral, unvarnished portrayal of the novel's intense psychological landscape.

Navigating the Complexities of Love and Vengeance in Brontë's Classic

At its core, Wuthering Heights chronicles the tumultuous, intertwined fates of the Earnshaws and the Lintons, forever linked by the enigmatic foster son, Heathcliff. The story famously details Catherine's choice to marry the wealthy Edgar Linton to preserve her social standing, devastating Heathcliff and setting him on a vengeful path against both families. It's a narrative where love is indistinguishable from obsession, and passion fuels destruction.

For example: Imagine a modern book club discussing this new film's marketing. One member, having only seen the trailer, gushes about the "greatest love story" aspect. Another, a seasoned reader of the novel, raises an eyebrow, remembering Heathcliff's manipulative cruelty and Catherine's selfish pride. The film's challenge is to bridge these perceptions, showing how the "love story" tagline can coexist with the characters' undeniable flaws and the devastating consequences of their actions. It's not a gentle romance; it's a storm.

A Nostalgic Look Back at Previous Adaptations, Including the Tom Hardy Gem

Before Fennell's new vision takes the big screen, Wuthering Heights has seen numerous adaptations over the decades, each bringing a different interpretation to Brontë's singular novel. One that has recently garnered renewed attention, especially as anticipation builds for the new film, is the 2009 mini-series.

This two-part series notably starred a young Tom Hardy as Heathcliff and Charlotte Riley as Cathy. In a delightful twist of real-life romance mirroring the story's intensity, Hardy and Riley met on the set of this drama and later married. (Source: Daily Mirror, 'Best ever' Wuthering Heights adaptation that sparked real-life love story, November 14, 2025)

The 2009 mini-series, which closely followed the source material's original storyline, has been widely praised by viewers for its fidelity to the novel, boasting an impressive 84% Rotten Tomatoes score from over 1,000 reviews. For those eager to revisit a more traditional, yet still compelling, take on the story before Fennell's "bold and original imagining," this version is currently available to stream entirely for free on ITVX.

Your Practical Takeaways for Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights'

• Prepare for Intensity: This isn't your grandma's period drama. Expect a visually lush, emotionally charged, and potentially unsettling interpretation that dives deep into the novel's darker themes.
• Question the Romance: The marketing pushes a "greatest love story" angle, but remember Brontë's original is equally about obsession, cruelty, and revenge. Go in with an open mind to the complex, often toxic, relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff.
• Anticipate Discussion: Fennell's casting choices and explicit directorial style are already controversial. Be ready for conversations and debates among fans and critics alike about its fidelity and artistic merits.
• Mark Your Calendar: Clear your schedule for Valentine's Weekend 2026, as Wuthering Heights lands in U.S. theaters on February 13, and internationally starting February 11.
• Tune into Charli xcx: The film features a new song, "Chains of Love," from her accompanying concept album, so expect the soundtrack to play a significant role in setting the film's tone.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' When does Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights release? The film is scheduled to premiere in U.S. theaters on February 13, 2026, and internationally starting February 11, 2026. Where can I watch the new Wuthering Heights film? Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights will have a theatrical release from Warner Bros. Pictures. What is the expected rating for this adaptation? Given the trailer's "steamy" and "provocative" nature, and Fennell's previous work like Saltburn, a mature rating (likely R or equivalent) is highly anticipated, though not officially confirmed yet. Who plays the younger versions of Cathy and Heathcliff? The younger Catherine Earnshaw is played by Charlotte Mellington, and the younger Heathcliff is portrayed by Owen Cooper.

Sources:

• Deadline, 'Wuthering Heights' Trailer: Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi In Emerald Fennell's Steamy Adaptation, November 13, 2025
• Deadline, Margot Robbie And Jacob Elordi To Star In Emerald Fennell’s Adaptation Of ‘Wuthering Heights’ From MRC And LuckyChap, September 3, 2025
• IndieWire, 'Wuthering Heights' Trailer: Is Emerald Fennell Obscuring the Truth of Her Romantic Leads with Another Lush Look?, November 13, 2025
• The Guardian, Wuthering Heights: bold new trailer for Emerald Fennell’s epic adaptation, November 13, 2025
• Yahoo, Fans Have Mixed Reactions to ‘Wuthering Heights’ Trailer With Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, November 13, 2025
• Daily Mirror, 'Best ever' Wuthering Heights adaptation that sparked real-life love story, November 14, 2025