Adolescent Star Owen Cooper Debuts in Controversial 'Wuthering Heights' Trailer
WUTHERING HEIGHTS CHAOS: Margot Robbie's Latest Disaster?
The highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel, Wuthering Heights, has been making waves in Hollywood with its star-studded cast and bold vision. However, it seems that the excitement surrounding this project may be short-lived as critics are already panning the film for being "all style and no substance."
The first trailer for the movie, directed by Emerald Fennell, dropped last week, showcasing Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. The clip features a striking 1980s-style wedding dress worn by Robbie, which has already gone viral on social media. However, fans are divided over the accuracy of this look, given that the book is set in 18th century Yorkshire.
The cast also includes Hong Chau as Nelly Dean, Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton, and newcomer Owen Cooper as the younger Heathcliff. Cooper's casting has been a particular highlight for fans of The Witcher series, where he currently stars alongside Stephen Graham.
In fact, Cooper is set to become one of the youngest Emmy Award nominees ever at just 15 years old, after being shortlisted for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie. He will go up against his co-star Ashley Walters, who has also been nominated in the same category.
However, it's Elordi's casting as the older Heathcliff that has caused the greatest stir among fans and critics alike. Brontë's original description of Heathcliff describes him as having dark hair, dark eyes, and possibly Roma or Gypsy heritage. Fans have pointed out that Elordi does not fit this description, raising questions about the film's commitment to accuracy.
Casting director Kharmel Cochrane has responded to the backlash, stating that she expected controversy and encouraging fans to "wait till you see it" before judging the film. She also hinted at the set design being a major departure from the book, which may not sit well with English Lit purists.
Fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment with the trailer, with some calling it "visually pretty but entirely hollow and wrong." Others have criticized the decision to bleach out the class and racial otherness of the original novel in favor of a more "horny whitewashed romance."
One particularly scathing review described the film as "fifty shades of Heathcliff and Cathy," implying that Fennell's vision has devolved into soft-core porn. Another viewer joked that Emily Brontë is rising from her grave to protest the film.
But what's really got tongues wagging is the reported content of a Dallas test screening, where the film divided opinion among attendees. According to accounts, the movie opens with a public hanging that spirals into surreal debauchery when "the condemned man ejaculates mid-execution," sending the crowd into an "orgiastic frenzy."
Other scenes reportedly feature purposefully discomforting masturbation, sexual bondage with horse reins, and suggestive imagery involving egg yolks, bread dough, and slug trails. One nun is even said to fondle the corpse's visible erection, sparking outrage among those who have seen it.
It remains to be seen whether Fennell's Wuthering Heights will capture the gothic passion of the original novel or devolve into a soft-core romp. As one fan aptly put it, "Looks like a cheap and pornified version of a timeless masterpiece."
What do you think about the controversy surrounding Wuthering Heights? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
(References: [The Scholarly Note] article on Wuthering Heights adaptation sparks outrage among fans)
