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Emerald Fennell’s new take on Wuthering Heights is already causing a stir. The first trailer is out, and it’s nothing like the adaptations most people know. The film stars Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, and it leans heavily into a steamy, provocative vision of the classic romance. Scenes in the trailer hint at sweaty stables, bodice-ripping, and other intimate moments, giving the story a much more erotic edge than the original novel.
The reactions online have been wild. Some viewers are excited, praising Fennell for bringing a modern, bold angle to a 19th-century classic. Others are outraged, arguing that the erotic elements distort Emily Brontë’s story. On social media, people are joking, shocked, and sometimes furious. Comments like “What in the 50 Shades of Grey is this?” and “Emily Brontë is turning in her grave” quickly went viral.
Adding fuel to the fire, Fennell’s choice to include Charli XCX’s music has also drawn criticism. Fans argue the soundtrack dates the film and distracts from the period setting, wishing instead for a traditional orchestral score.
The controversy doesn’t stop at style and music. Casting Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff reignited debates about staying true to the character’s description in the book as a “dark-skinned gypsy.” Early test screenings have also shocked audiences, with some calling certain scenes, like a public execution, “aggressively provocative” and “tonally abrasive.”
Set for release on Valentine’s Day 2026, this adaptation is clearly aiming to push boundaries. Whether audiences will embrace it or reject it, Wuthering Heights in Fennell’s hands is already unforgettable.