Thescreescore – Director Emerald Fennell, fresh off the release of her much-discussed 2026 adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, has weighed in on the swirling speculation regarding a potential follow-up. Her cinematic vision, starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, has ignited debate primarily because it deliberately navigates only the initial half of Brontë’s expansive 1847 novel, leaving a significant portion of the iconic narrative unexplored on screen.
Fennell’s film meticulously charts the tempestuous childhood and fated, passionate connection between Cathy and Heathcliff, even extending into Cathy’s marriage to Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif). This focused approach, while delivering a potent emotional punch, inherently leaves a vast amount of the original story untouched, prompting questions about a possible continuation. However, in a recent conversation with Ash Crossan for thescreescore.com, the Saltburn filmmaker playfully dismissed the notion of a direct sequel. "Oh my God. Can you imagine Wuthering Heights 2? More Heights, more Wuthering," Fennell quipped, her tone suggesting both amusement and incredulity at the prospect.
She elaborated on the inherent challenges of adapting such a monumental literary work. "The thing is that this book is so dense, it’s so complicated, and it’s so epic. It takes place over generations," Fennell explained. She highlighted that a truly comprehensive, faithful adaptation would necessitate a miniseries or even a ten-episode run to give every facet of the story its due attention. Faced with this narrative behemoth, Fennell chose a different path.
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"Or you do what I’ve done here and make your own kind of response to the book and the things that it made you feel," she articulated, "The things that you wish happened or didn’t happen." This statement underscores her artistic intent: to craft a deeply personal interpretation rather than a literal translation, shaping the narrative to reflect her own emotional and thematic engagement with the source material. This approach, she has previously noted, extends beyond mere omissions to influence how the included elements are portrayed.
For those intimately familiar with Brontë’s original text, the omitted narrative is substantial. After Cathy and Heathcliff’s tragic initial entanglement, the novel delves into Heathcliff’s calculated revenge, his abusive marriage to Isabella Linton (Alison Oliver), and his manipulative acquisition of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange through the next generation. The story continues with Cathy’s death in childbirth, the lives of her daughter (also named Cathy), Heathcliff’s son Linton, and Hindley’s son Hareton, culminating in Heathcliff’s own demise and the eventual peace found by the younger characters.
Despite leaving these rich narrative threads untouched, Fennell’s adaptation aligns with a common trend in Wuthering Heights cinematic history, where filmmakers often prioritize the intense, central romance. This focus appears to be resonating with audiences and critics alike; the 2026 Wuthering Heights currently holds a respectable 66% on Rotten Tomatoes and is anticipated to perform strongly at the box office. While some critiques have emerged, such as Gregory Nussen’s review for thescreescore.com denouncing it as "a toothless, whitewashed adaptation" (alluding to the casting of Elordi as Heathcliff), these criticisms largely pertain to specific directorial choices rather than the scope of the story itself. Ultimately, Fennell’s artistic inclination remains firmly rooted in the captivating intensity of the initial love story.
Wuthering Heights is now playing in theaters.
Film Details:
- Release Date: February 13, 2026
- Runtime: 136 Minutes
- Director: Emerald Fennell
- Writers: Emerald Fennell, Emily Brontë
- Producers: Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara
- Cast: Margot Robbie (Catherine Earnshaw), Jacob Elordi (Heathcliff), Shazad Latif (Edgar Linton), Alison Oliver (Isabella)
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