Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are the superstars who have been cast in a new version of the classic novel Wuthering Heights – but many readers are not overly impressed.
Barbie star Margot Robbie will play the iconic Cathy while Jacob Elordi, 27, best known for his roles in Saltburn and Euphoria, will be taking on the role of Heathcliff in the new adaptation which is being directed by Saltburn’s Emerald Fennell.
But the casting has not impressed fans of the novel, who have taken to social media to ask: “Have they even read the book?”
The 1850 classic follows the tribulations of the Earnshaw and Linton families in rural Yorkshire and the trouble caused by the Earnshaws’ foster son, Heathcliff. At this stage, it’s not known how closely Fennell’s version will follow the book.
In the past, Heathcliff has been played by the likes of Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, Ralph Fiennes, and Tom Hardy (as well as, who can forget, Cliff Richard!) and in the book, the character is described as having dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin and is believed to be from a Roma or Gypsy background.
Fans have also questioned whether lead stars are the right ages to play the characters, as Heathcliff is described as being around the age of 40 in the book, while Cathy is still a teenager.
Many have been left feeling bewildered, with one film critic, Clarisse Loughrey, asking on X: “did anyone actually read the book before deciding this?”
did anyone actually read the book before deciding this https://t.co/cvLZkkTg2f
— Clarisse Loughrey (@clarisselou) September 23, 2024
Others seem to be in agreement with the confusion:
Can we stop casting the same actors for everything. Margot is great, but she doesn’t really have that period drama look or fit the age range of the fcm and Jacob…is nothing like the character described. Pretty disappointing
— Zzzz💙 (@zoe_hey) September 24, 2024
Is this going to be a parody version? What terrible casting.
— nik 🌸🫶🏽 (@dramalifehitme) September 24, 2024
Some fans even said more could have been done to find actors from the area where the book was originally based:
Shame there are no Northern actors
— Nicolas Tennant (@TennantNicolas) September 24, 2024
Shame. Much more suitable actors out there.
— Theresa Wood (@Theresa4Talent) September 24, 2024
Other readers believe the book is not being treated with the care it deserves, with one saying: “Do they understand what makes the book special?”
Who made that casting choice?, have they read book? do they understand what makes the book special?
— Chris Eyre (@Chris23236702) September 24, 2024
Cathy will have the best teeth anyone ever had in the 19th century.
— Brand Story Strategist | She/Her 🇺🇦 (@gillianography) September 24, 2024
It’ll appeal to an American audience and I think that’s all they take into consideration.
Some have even accused those in charge of “white washing” the history behind the book.
Why read the book when you can give a white man one more role?
— Andrew (@mylifedotnet) September 24, 2024
heathcliff is described as a dark-skinned brown man in the book and a major plot point is that he was subjected to racist abuse by his adopted family. but yeah sure jacob elordi is perfect! https://t.co/VqRvlOCvMP
— ⊹˚. ren (@andorlorians) September 23, 2024
The white washing
— Nutcracker 💍 (@mu_antonella) September 24, 2024
The lack of aura
But some were just there for the fun memes:
Liking all the negative tweets about the Wuthering heights casting pic.twitter.com/vw1OskQNCI
— Big Ol' Grilled Cheese (@wants_cheese) September 23, 2024
This will be the first major adaptation of Wuthering Heights since Andrea Arnold’s 2011 film.
