Emerald Fennell‘s decision to cast Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff in her upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation has sparked backlash online. Deadline revealed that Elordi and Margot Robbie will star in the film as Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Fennell is set to write, direct, and produce.
Based on the classic novel by Emily Brontë, the character Heathcliff’s ethnicity is somewhat ambiguous in the novel. In Wuthering Heights, the character is described as having dark skin, dark hair, and a wild appearance. He is also referred to as a “dark-skinned gipsy.” Many fans had hoped to see a Romani actor portray the role, or at least an actor of color, as the general consensus among readers and literary experts is that Heathcliff is not white.
Heathcliff’s experiences in the story, facing prejudice and racism as a man of color, influence his decisions, relationships, character arc, and the meaning of the story. The original story doesn’t shy away from centering on the abuse Heathcliff receives from his foster family, the Earnshaws, and the neighboring Lintons family. It is odd that the director, Fennell, would choose to ignore this crucial aspect of his identity for her adaptation.
Lost in Adaptation Again and Again
Wuthering Heights is considered by many to be one of the great pieces of literature ever written. The 1939 film adaptation, directed by William Wyler, starred English actor Lawrence Oliver as Heathcliff. There was also a 1970s film starring Timothy Dalton although that adaptation does not cover the whole story. Ralph Fiennes portrayed him in the 1992 film. Then actor Tom Hardy played Heathcliff in a 2009 television adaptation.
Fennel and Elordi recently worked together on her 2023 film Saltburn. As talented as Elordi and all of the white, British actors mentioned above are, audiences have seen this casting decision before. Perhaps this is why the 2011 adaptation is so beloved. Audiences finally got a more book accurate depiciton with James Howson portraying Heathcliff in the film. The film received critical acclaim and is a fan favorite. Vulture even compared the 2011 film to Fennell’s Saltburn saying:
“2011’s
Wuthering Heights
Is the Horny, Twisted Romance
Saltburn
Wishes It Was”
Some fans were outraged by the news, saying Fennell’s casting decision seemed “unserious”. Clarisse Loughrey, film critic forThe Independent wrote: “Did anyone actually read the book before deciding this?” Many viewers considered this as just another example of minority and queer erasure in Hollywood. Michael Stewart, director of the Brontë Writing Centre, commented on the casting, telling The Daily Telegraph:
“With
Wuthering Heights
, you’ve had many years of white actors playing the more ambiguous ethnic character… But things are different now, the way we represent certain people in art and culture comes with a responsibility now that wasn’t there 20 years ago.”
One X (Twitter) user expanded on this same sentiment, addressing the lack of care and responsibility in Hollywood’s recent adaptations of classic literature.
Netflix’s 2023 adaptation of Persuasion was poorly received, scoring a 30% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Then recently, Netflix it’s next classic adaptation. A modern reimagining of The Picture of Dorian Gray, based on Oscar Wilde’s novel. However, fans were not too pleased to hear that the creators would be changing Dorian and Basil’s relationship in the story, making them brothers.
Other X (Twitter) users began posting fan casts like the one below, featuring Elle Fanning in Hulu’s The Great and Dev Patel in The Green Knight.
Fennell has not yet commented on the response to the casting news. Given their Fennel and Elordi’s professional relationship, it is unlikely she will recast the role. Fans will be waiting to hear who is cast next in the adaptation. Filming for Wuthering Heights is set to begin next year in the UK.
Stream
Wuthering Heights
(2011) now on Peacock.