Wuthering Heights Remake: 'Old White Cast' Sparks Controversial Debate

WUTHERING HEIGHTS SCANDAL ROCKS HOLLYWOOD: CARRIAGE OF CAMELS, OR A DEPRAVITY-FILLED DREAM?

The usually tranquil world of literary adaptations has been turned on its head as Emerald Fennell's highly anticipated film version of Emily Brontë's classic novel Wuthering Heights continues to court controversy. The first trailer for the movie, set to be released in 2026 on Valentine's Day, has left fans and critics alike aghast, with some even branding it "softcore porn."

The latest salvo in the backlash comes from social media, where outraged users are calling out the film's Caucasian casting choices. Australian stars Margot Robbie, 35, and Jacob Elordi, 28, have been cast as Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, respectively. In a move that has left many fuming, both actors are white, despite the novel featuring Heathcliff as racially ambiguous and non-white.

One scathing comment from a social media user read: "Not to be that one friend who is too woke but bleaching the class and racial otherness out of Wuthering Heights to sell a horny whitewashed romance genuinely pisses me off." Another user chimed in, "I will be complaining about Wuthering Heights for the foreseeable future as the very existence of a white Heathcliff offends me."

But it's not just the casting choices that have fans up in arms – the film itself is being accused of prioritizing style over substance. Test screenings last month left attendees aghast at the jaw-dropping opening scene, which features a public hanging with a rather...ahem... graphic twist: the condemned man ejaculates mid-execution.

The film's casting director, Kharmel Cochrane, has come under fire for her response to the backlash. In a Q&A session at the Sands Film Festival in Scotland, Cochrane seemed almost nonchalant about the criticism, saying there was "no need to be accurate" when it came to adapting the novel. "It's just a book," she shrugged, before teasing that the film would also feature a dog collar – because, why not?

Cochrane's comments have sparked outrage among fans and critics alike, with some calling for her to be fired from the project. As one social media user put it: "The Wuthering Heights adaptation being an erotic drama directed by Emerald Fennell starring 35-year-old Margot Robbie and pasty Jacob Elordi with original music by Charli XCX... BURN IT TO THE GROUND."

It seems that fans are not the only ones who will be left reeling from this film. Test screenings have reportedly been met with stunned silence, as viewers struggle to comprehend just what Fennell is trying to achieve.

Fennell's track record on Saltburn has left many wondering if she's more interested in pushing boundaries than staying true to the original material. As one critic noted: "Emerald's style is all about 'stylised depravity,' and it looks like Wuthering Heights will be no exception."

So, what can audiences expect from this scandal-ridden adaptation? Well, for starters, they'll get a healthy dose of graphic content, courtesy of Fennell's signature style. But will that be enough to distract viewers from the fact that the film is essentially a whitewashed romance?

As one fan so aptly put it: "Margot Robbie 40 years old playing a character that dies at 18... welcome back Evita 1996." It seems that this Wuthering Heights adaptation has all the makings of a literary catastrophe – and we can't wait to see just how far Fennell will push the boundaries.

With its racy new version set to hit cinemas on Valentine's Day, 2026, one thing is for sure: fans of the classic novel are in for a rude awakening. Will they be appalled by the film's unapologetic sexploitation? Or will Fennell's vision breathe new life into this timeless tale?

Only time (and box office returns) will tell.