The upcoming Wuthering Heights (2026) adaptation is already generating massive buzz, thanks to its bold casting choices and modern creative vision. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, this reimagining of Emily Brontë’s classic novel promises to bring fresh emotional intensity to one of literature’s most iconic love stories.
With audiences eager for prestige literary adaptations, Wuthering Heights (2026) is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year.
Release Date & Complete Cast
| Release Date: | February 13, 2026 (IMAX Theatres) |
| Director: | Emerald Fennell (Saltburn, Promising Young Woman) |
| Runtime: | 2h 10m | Rated R |
Complete Cast
- Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw
- Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff
- Hong Chau as Nelly Dean
- Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton
- Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton
- Martin Clunes as Mr. Earnshaw
- Ewan Mitchell as Joseph
- Charlotte Mellington as Young Catherine
- Owen Cooper as Young Heathcliff
Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi: Sizzling Chemistry
The trailer alone proves Margot Robbie (37) and Jacob Elordi (29) generate nuclear-level tension—less Barbie/Ken, more feral moorland obsession. Fennell cast Elordi because he “looked exactly like the Heathcliff illustration from her first Brontë,” and their age gap fuels authentic power dynamics missing from sanitized adaptations.
Elordi told Vanity Fair their chemistry “ignited immediately”—Robbie’s Cathy wields weaponized femininity while Elordi’s Heathcliff weaponizes brooding silence. Behind-the-scenes footage shows them laughing between takes, then flipping to Heathcliff/Cathy possession in seconds. Production designer Suzie Davies called their moors embrace “shocking, animalistic.”
Emerald Fennell’s Provocative Reimagining
Post-Saltburn, Fennell doubles down on gothic provocation—Charli XCX’s original soundtrack album drops alongside the film, with “Wuthering Heights” single already haunting TikTok. Oscar-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren (La La Land) captures Yorkshire moors like psychedelic nightmares, while Jacqueline Durran’s costumes blend Regency filth with modern edge.
Casting director Kharmel Cochrane teased “dog collars may or may not appear,” hinting at Fennell’s Saltburn-level boundary-pushing. The 2h10m runtime suggests uncompromised Brontë sprawl—dual timelines, ghostly hauntings, Cathy/Heathcliff’s mutual destruction rendered in lurid, operatic glory.
Must-See Gothic Romance
Warner Bros. secured theatrical rights after Netflix bidding war—IMAX release signals awards-season ambition. Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap produces alongside MRC, ensuring female gaze dominates this most misogynistic of romances. Hong Chau’s Nelly Dean and Alison Oliver’s Isabella promise scene-stealing support.
This adaptation isn’t just another period drama—it represents a modern cinematic take on a timeless novel. With a high-profile cast, a strong creative direction, and renewed interest in literary adaptations, Wuthering Heights (2026) has the potential to resonate with both longtime fans and first-time viewers. As anticipation continues to grow, this film stands poised to become one of the defining literary adaptations of the decade.
Masterclass Production
Linus Sandgren’s cinematography turns Yorkshire fog into fever dream; Suzie Davies’ production design makes Wuthering Heights feel like rotting flesh. Anthony Willis scores with modern classical dread, while Victoria Boydell (Fellow Traveler) cuts between timelines like psychological surgery.
Jacqueline Durran’s costumes weaponize Regency decay—Cathy’s white muslin stained with moor mud, Heathcliff’s black broadcloth swallowing light. Charli XCX’s soundtrack bridges Brontë’s 1847 with 2026’s feral pop hunger.
Final Thoughts
Emerald Fennell weaponizes Brontë’s primal text with Margot Robbie/Jacob Elordi chemistry that could melt IMAX screens. This isn’t period drama—it’s gothic body horror disguised as romance, Saltburn’s twisted sibling demanding theatrical worship.
Trailer views exploded past 15M in 48 hours—Valentine’s Day 2026 belongs to Cathy and Heathcliff’s beautiful damnation. Mark calendars, book IMAX, prepare to be possessed. Wuthering Heights redefines literary adaptation prestige.
