Margot Robbie brings controversy to ‘Wuthering Heights’ in first trailer

Wuthering Heights is coming for a new generation. The beloved Gothic novel, first published in 1847 by Emily Brontë, will be hitting theaters on February 14th. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the film has shared its first teaser trailer, immediately sparking controversy.

Written and directed by Academy Award-winning Emerald Fennell, “Wuthering Heights” shared its first teaser and official billboards with the tagline “Drive me mad” months before its release date, starting its publicity campaign early. The film is an adaptation of the classic novel that follows various characters from the Earnshaw and Linton families through the years, chronicling their love, strife, and unhappiness, all amidst the gorgeous and frightening landscapes of the British moors. 

The teaser is brief, but it depicts a thoroughly modern take on the material, with a focus on sex, toxicity, bright and vivid colors, and original music by Charli XCX. It might be the most distinct “Wuthering Heights” adaptation to date, but it certainly looks and feels like a Fennell project. 

© Getty Images

Featuring gothic landscapes, lush imagery, disturbing close-ups, and a scene-stealing Elordi, the teaser is firmly planted within the perspective of Robbie’s Cathy, showing her warring feelings for Heathcliff, the boy she grew up with. As of this writing, the teaser has been viewed thousands of times and prompted impassioned online commentary. 

The controversy explained

Fennell has met controversy ever since she signed on to the project, with some decrying her decision to cast Elordi as Heathcliff when he’s described as having dark skin in the books. Over the years, “Wuthering Heights” adaptations have mostly whitewashed the character, with actors like Laurence Olivier, Tom Hardy and Ralph Fiennes playing the role. 

In 2011, Andrea Arnold‘s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” cast James Howson, a biracial actor, as Heathcliff. 

© Warner Bros

Critics have also complained about the decision to cast Robbie and Elordi, who are both older than the characters in the book. For most of the story, at least the parts where they’re together, Heathcliffe and Catherine are kids and teens. This is also something that has been disregarded by most of the book’s adaptations. 

Since the trailer’s debut, critics have aired their issues with the film’s tone and with Fennell’s style. “emily bronte is rising from her grave as we speak because why did they turn wuthering heights into fifty shades of heathcliff and cathy,” reads a post on X. 

One thing’s for sure: “Wuthering Heights” continues to spark strong emotions centuries after its publication. You can check out the full teaser below.