Emerald Fennell Defends Primal Sexuality In Wuthering Heights Film Adaptation

Emerald Fennell, director and screenwriter of the new film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s "Wuthering Heights," has openly discussed her approach to the project, emphasizing its primal and sexual nature inspired by her first reading of the novel as a teenager. The film stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and has sparked controversy, particularly over casting choices and the erotic tone of the trailer, which includes provocative imagery and has generated debate about its faithfulness to the book's themes. Fennell defends the eroticism and sadomasochistic elements of the story, noting that Brontë's original novel was shocking for its time and that the film aims to evoke the emotional, illicit, and private connections readers have with the characters. She acknowledges the heavy responsibility of adapting such a personal and complex work and describes the process as a masochistic exercise driven by love for the source material. The director also addresses the casting controversy, explaining her choices as aligning with her vision and the characters as she experienced them. Overall, Fennell's adaptation seeks to capture the intense emotional response Brontë's novel inspired in her while also pushing the boundaries of previous screen versions.