Thescreescore – For those eager to experience Emerald Fennell’s cinematic take on Emily Brontë’s seminal Gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, be advised that the director has taken significant liberties with the source material, particularly concerning its expansive cast of characters. The 2026 adaptation, which premiered on February 13, 2026, streamlines Brontë’s sprawling narrative, leading to several notable omissions that reshape the iconic tale.
Fennell’s highly anticipated film centers on the tempestuous and destructive star-crossed romance between Catherine (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), set against the haunting backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. Their passionate bond is irrevocably fractured by societal pressures and familial expectations, yet the cinematic rendition consciously pares down the novel’s intricate web of relationships to sharpen its focus.
Among the most striking alterations is the complete excision of Cathy’s brother, Hindley, a pivotal figure in the novel’s narrative of familial discord and abuse towards Heathcliff. Instead, this crucial catalyst for Heathcliff’s later vengeful machinations is absorbed by Cathy’s father, portrayed by Martin Clunes. Furthermore, consistent with previous cinematic interpretations, Fennell’s 2026 feature eschews the entire second generation of characters – Cathy’s daughter, Heathcliff’s son, and Hindley’s son – who become integral to the novel’s sprawling latter half, exploring the cyclical nature of its tragic romance.
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In a revealing conversation with Ash Crossan for thescreescore.com, Fennell offered profound insight into her selective approach to Brontë’s text. She recounted a unique pre-production exercise: "Before I reread it again with a view of adapting it, I wrote down everything I remembered from the book," Fennell disclosed. "Some of it was real, and some of it was my own imaginings and memory, in the same way that I think Kate Bush’s song is a response to the book."
Ultimately, Fennell underscored that her vision remained singularly focused on the tempestuous bond between its central figures: "Cathy and Heathcliff, I think those of us who love the book, feel that’s the thing. ‘Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.’ That’s the core of what keeps us all coming back. So, that’s what I felt I wanted to really focus on."
Despite these significant omissions, several iconic characters crucial to shaping Cathy and Heathcliff’s tumultuous lives endure on the big screen. Hong Chau embodies Nelly Dean, the Earnshaw household servant who, in the novel, acts as the famously unreliable narrator, recounting the saga to a new tenant years later. The stark contrast between the crumbling Wuthering Heights, home to the Earnshaws, and the refined Thrushcross Grange of the Lintons remains a visual and thematic cornerstone, as does Cathy’s fateful decision to marry Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif).
Heathcliff’s calculated seduction of Edgar’s sister, Isabella, as part of his elaborate revenge against both families, provides a dramatic highlight. Alison Oliver’s portrayal of Isabella has garnered particular acclaim, even amidst mixed critical responses to the film. Gregory Nussen, reviewing for thescreescore.com, while assigning Wuthering Heights a modest 4 out of 10, declared Oliver "the film’s clear winner, as the only actor that seems perched at the right fever pitch for Fennell’s wonky vision."
While the central, fiery romantic entanglements undeniably persist in Fennell’s adaptation, critical opinion remains divided on the chemistry and effectiveness of Robbie and Elordi’s dynamic. Nevertheless, Wuthering Heights has launched with a robust Rotten Tomatoes score and is poised for commercial triumph. Ultimately, audiences themselves will render judgment on whether Robbie and Elordi truly embody the profound emphasis Fennell has placed on their characters.
Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is now captivating audiences in theaters.
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