Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Did Mark Fall for Wuthering Heights — or Run Screaming Across the Moors? With Emerald Fennell

Feb 12, 2026
Emerald Fennell, Oscar-winning writer-director known for Promising Young Woman, discusses her bold adaptation of Wuthering Heights. She talks casting Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, creating a tactile emotional landscape with rain and design, and why Brontë’s violent romance still fascinates. Expect talk of youth, obsession, and the controversies around modernizing a classic.
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ANECDOTE

Teenage Revelation Sparked The Film

  • Emerald Fennell first read Wuthering Heights at 14 and had a visceral, physical reaction to the book.
  • She describes it as a moment that taught her the power of emotional connection across time and inspired her to adapt it.
INSIGHT

Casting For Cinematic Monumentality

  • Fennell wanted stars with "gargantuan" charisma to occupy an otherworldly space on screen.
  • She cites Rhett Butler/Scarlett O'Hara and Burton/Taylor as tonal references for casting and presence.
ANECDOTE

How Robbie Joined The Project

  • Fennell avoids showing collaborators unfinished ideas until the script is finished and then sends it to trusted partners.
  • Margot Robbie volunteered to produce and star after Fennell sent the completed script.
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