Can the wild moors handle a pop fever dream, or will the purists storm the gates first? When Hollywood’s brightest steps into Brontë’s darkest rooms, the love story everyone thinks they know suddenly looks dangerous again.

Emily Brontë’s tempest of obsession gets a pop pulse as Emerald Fennell pairs Margot Robbie’s Catherine with Jacob Elordi’s Heathcliff to the thrum of new Charli XCX tracks. The filmmaker behind Promising Young Woman and Saltburn leans into risk, shaping a sleek, modern spin that toys with gothic grit and desire. Purists are already bristling at liberties and at the hypersexualized sheen, while others are braced for a brash revival. With Hong Chau, Ewan Mitchell, Alison Oliver and Owen Cooper in the ensemble, the film is set to arrive on February 11, 2026.

The timeless love story: a fresh take on Wuthering Heights

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are set to lead a high-profile adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Guided by director Emerald Fennell, known for bold, provocative storytelling, the film reframes the classic with a contemporary edge. With a release date fixed for February 11, 2026, anticipation is already mounting as curiosity and early skepticism circulate in equal measure.

A modern vision: Emerald Fennell behind the camera

Fresh off acclaim for “Promising Young Woman” and building buzz with “Saltburn,” Fennell approaches this project with a sleek, unapologetically pop-inflected sensibility. Expect a vivid aesthetic and a kinetic rhythm, backed by original music from Charli XCX. By fusing nineteenth-century melodrama with modern visual language, Emerald Fennell aims to reframe the searing relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff for a new generation.

Drive me mad. “Wuthering Heights” comes to theaters Valentine’s Day. pic.twitter.com/n4UNA1nKmh

— WutheringHeightsMovie (@wuthering_hts) September 3, 2025

A cast to remember

Margot Robbie takes on the fierce, conflicted Catherine Earnshaw, while Jacob Elordi inhabits the brooding, mercurial Heathcliff. Their on-screen dynamic is poised to anchor the adaptation’s emotional core. The ensemble features Hong Chau, Ewan Mitchell, Alison Oliver, and Owen Cooper as a younger Heathcliff, a choice that adds texture to the character’s evolution and invites debate over fidelity to Brontë’s original portraits.

Not without its detractors

As with any bold reinterpretation of a classic, the project has sparked controversy. Admirers champion its fearless update, while some purists criticize what they view as excessive liberties with the source material. The casting of Elordi as Heathcliff has been scrutinized across social platforms, and hints of a potentially hypersexualized tone in early promotional cues have polarized audiences, intensifying the film’s reputation for stirring strong reactions.

The enduring power of Wuthering Heights

Since its 1847 publication, this tempestuous novel has remained a touchstone of English literature’s dark romanticism. The filmmakers aim to preserve its gothic aura while sharpening it with modern form and sound. That interplay of tradition and reinvention keeps the conversation alive, ensuring Brontë’s tale continues to resonate as the countdown to February 2026 builds momentum.