'It begins to seem almost impossible for a director to satisfy all viewers in adapting literature for the screen'

The Daily Iowan has University of Iowa students and professors discuss their thoughts on Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights.

University of Iowa second-year student and screenwriting major Bailey Vergara has seen leaked and teased content for the upcoming film. She said she believes while historical accuracy is important in a fictional piece, creativity is fine to let loose.

“If it’s set in a real historical time period but the characters are fictional, I’m a bit more willing to forgive historical inaccuracies,” Vergara said. “If you want to take some creative liberties with the characters and the setting, I think that’s fine because the story is fiction, these people didn’t really exist.” [...]

“It kind of seems, to a lot of people, Emerald Fennell just wanted to make a fun period drama. But, if she’s not setting it within the story of ‘Wuthering Heights,’ I would say it requires a bit more scrutiny,” Vergara said. 

While some “Wuthering Heights” onlookers are wary of the general inaccuracies between the trailer and the book, others are focusing on how the clothing itself is portrayed. 

UI art history professor Anna Isbell noted the historical inaccuracies in the clothing. 

“I understand why they do it,” she said. “It becomes this very sexy scene, which seems to be kind of the vibe that this specific iteration of ‘Wuthering Heights’ is going for.”

Isbell said the scene in question shows Catherine with no chemise underneath, letting the camera zoom into her skin, focusing on the shine from the sweat on her back.  

This tight lacing of the corset or stay with nothing underneath is a common trope. Isbell mentioned this and explained how the common image is used as a metaphor for the restrictions women had in the societies of the 18th- and 19th-century. 

“People have a misunderstanding of not only women and their role in society, but also their clothing. You read these things online where people say, ‘Well, that’s what kept women down. It was the corsets, they were a tool of the patriarchy.’ But they were essentially their bras,” Isbell said.

Many period pieces take creative liberties and opt out of using a chemise or a fitted corset. This then raises concern over historical accuracy, as essential clothing items such as stays and corsets worn incorrectly could harm the actresses wearing them. 

UI second-year student and screenwriting major Ria Das said they are advocate for the safety of actors and actresses in film projects.

“One of the downfalls of not being historically accurate is that they’re forcing a lot of the female actresses to wear those painful corsets,” Das said. “I feel like with costuming, the actors should be comfortable in that. I have heard of some actors being uncomfortable in the corsets. It’s really unfortunate, especially if they’re not historically accurate. Then I feel there’s no point in making your actors do that.” (Madisyn Hunt)

Muse tries to understand 'Why People Are So Angry Over The New ‘Wuthering Heights’ Trailer'.

Emerald Fennell’s new “Wuthering Heights” trailer was released at the beginning of autumn, and social media users were brought to life in a wild frenzy of claims surrounding the validity of this new film as a so-called adaptation of Bronte’s beloved classic. Soundtracked to the honeyed tones of hyper-pop sensation Charli xcx, we watch as Margot Robbie’s character is struck by erotic fantasy after fantasy over the tall, dark and handsome Jacob Elordi. Our screens lit up by the vivid blues and bloody reds of the scenes and we are bombarded with quick clips: close-ups of corsets being pulled, gloomy landscapes, and the undeniably beautiful faces of the two starring actors. The trailer is artistically magnificent, riddled with beautiful imagery and stand-out costuming. But, without the title flashing at the end, one would not know that this is supposed to be an adaptation of the 1847 novel. Here is where the problem lies for many people.

The first issue for many critics is the casting choices of the film’s creators; Robbie stars as Catherine Earnshaw, who in the book is described as having brown hair and dark brown eyes with a frail frame (far from the blonde bombshell that is Margot Robbie). Furthermore, Catherine is only 18 at the time of her death, while Robbie seemingly plays the teenager while being 35 herself. However, the grievances with casting do not end there. Heathcliff is explicitly described in the novel as “dark skinned” with “black eyes”, and referred to as “black” by Nelly. Jacob Elordi is therefore irrevocably not a perfect visual fit for this character description.

The morality of the original text requires a complete sense of ‘otherness’ between Heathcliff and Cathy, having them find a likeness in one another nonetheless. It is hard to imagine how one can gain a feeling of this same provocative concept when our protagonists are cast as two of Hollywood's most conventionally attractive, and more importantly, white actors. (...)

While there is, therefore, some sympathy to be had for the director who chooses to adapt a cult-classic such as Wuthering Heights, there must also be an acknowledgement of the fatigue which many are beginning to feel towards film funding going largely to unoriginal films. Another 2026 film which has sparked debate and conversation over screen adaptations is Nolan’s The Odyssey, which is undoubtedly a huge undertaking in satisfying critics. Yet, similar to the reception towards Fennell, many are hopeful that the director will push past the boundaries set by previous book-to-screen adaptations and transform the text into new territory. It is yet to be seen whether 2026 will be a year for brilliant and groundbreaking literary adaptations which will set forward a new generation of creative reimagining, or if we will yet again be left disappointed by a boring copy of stories which have been told so many times before. (Poppy Edwards)

India Today discusses 'How alt-version films and shows are reimagining literary works'.

Looking ahead, Emerald Fennell's 2026 gothic take on 'Wuthering Heights' is set to push the alt-version boundaries further by turning the tale into a steamy psychodrama. The film loosens Emily Brontë's 1847 restraints, turning the stormy soul of the novel into a Fennell fever dream.

Margot Robbie is cast as Catherine, the unhinged heiress, while Jacob Elordi interprets Heathcliff as a brooding anti-hero. Scheduled for a Valentine's Day release, the film promises to deliver gothic passion alongside post-colonial guilt and gender trauma amid lavish, shocking sets, demonstrating the alt-version formula can transform a classic romantic tragedy into an erotic thriller. (Anurag Singh Bohra)

Soap Central has an article on Charli XCX's songs for the movie.

Recently, Charli XCX discussed her work as a co-writer on the soundtrack for the new Wuthering Heights film. In her own words, she elaborated on what it means to her as a group of songs, how it works within the context of her previous work, and how it holds a similar mood to the film. XCX's comments give fans a real sense of what the soundtrack might sound like.

She said the music she will contribute is original, not just reusing existing songs. She described it as having an

"elegant and brutal sound palette."

She added that this new music

"couldn’t be more different from Brat," (Srijani Dutta)

University Times takes 'A deep dive into what books our students at Trinity are burying their noses into this week'.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë  

We conclude this article with a flashback to the 19th century. Although many who love literature have probably already read (and re-read) Emily Brontë’s staple Wuthering Heights, I think it is fitting to revisit it today, considering the countdown to the release of its infamous film adaptation, starring Margot Robbie, has officially begun.  

The iconic period romance follows the tale of the elegant Catherine Earnshaw and the brooding Heathcliff, placing us in the heart of the gothic Yorkshire Moors. Their love mirrors the destructive nature of the environment around them, as the novel follows Heathcliff’s ensuing revenge after Catherine is torn from his sure grasp. A first-year English student took some time to tell us a bit about the novel and why she decided to pick it up, now. “I love how we see hatred and love intertwine”, she begins, “I think the writing is spotless, and it immerses you into the story.”  

Brontë often nestles her way into the English literature curriculum in some respect, yet this student wants to emphasise that Victorian literature does not always have to be embraced in an academic setting. “For those who love literature, Wuthering Heights is a staple, a masterpiece. This is my second time reading it, and I felt that it really revamped my passion for writing before I was thrown into the deep end of my studies. You can’t help but absorb the passion portrayed in the book.”  

The story may be a topic of controversy in recent weeks, as critics dispute over the details and descriptions that are soon to be “neglected” in the classic’s newest adaptation by Emerald Fennel. “I definitely think it’s a book everyone should read (at some point), and I respect how everyone has different opinions on it and different interpretations of the book – is that not what reading is all about?” (Evie Doyle)

Tatler Asia has selected '6 feminist gothic novels for lovers of dark, empowered heroines', the first of which is

‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë’s enduring masterpiece remains a cornerstone of the feminist gothic novel. Jane Eyre, an orphaned governess, navigates a world designed to diminish her. Her journey is one of quiet rebellion, marked by an unwavering moral compass and a fierce independence. In facing the cruelties of Lowood School, the enigmatic Rochester and the secrets of Thornfield Hall, Jane asserts her right to self-determination and emotional integrity. Her strength lies not in supernatural powers but in her steadfast refusal to compromise her principles, even when faced with destitution or a love that demands too high a price. (Chonx Tibajia)

NH Talk Radio's programme Artful Living discusses the Brontës.