Margot Robbie Defends ‘Wuthering Heights’ Casting, Says Fans Should “Just Wait”
Margot Robbie is standing strong behind the upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, even as early casting criticism continues to swirl online. In a new conversation with British Vogue, Robbie addressed the mixed reactions surrounding Emerald Fennell’s bold casting choices — including picking Robbie herself as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff.
The film, based on Emily Brontë’s 1847 classic, has faced controversy from the moment the cast was announced. In the original novel, Catherine is a brunette teenager, while Robbie is a 35-year-old blonde star. But Fennell has confirmed that she intentionally aged Catherine up for the movie and reimagined the character to be in her late 20s to early 30s.
Robbie says she understands why some fans are skeptical.
“I get it. There’s nothing else to go off right now until people actually see the movie,” she explained.
Why Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff? Robbie Says He’s “Perfect.”
Much of the online backlash has centered around Jacob Elordi’s casting as Heathcliff — a character described as “dark-skinned” in the book. But Fennell revealed that Elordi was the inspiration for the entire project. After seeing him with sideburns on the set of Saltburn, she instantly pictured him as the brooding literary icon.
Robbie fully agrees.
“He is Heathcliff,” she insisted. “Just wait. Trust me, you’ll be happy.”
She even compared Elordi’s talent to some of the biggest names in film history — from Laurence Olivier and Ralph Fiennes to Tom Hardy — and went so far as to call him “our generation’s Daniel Day-Lewis.”
Why Margot Robbie Works as Catherine, According to Emerald Fennell
Director Emerald Fennell has passionately defended her decision to cast Robbie, despite the age and appearance differences.
To her, Catherine is not defined by her hair or age — she’s defined by her wild, magnetic personality.
Fennell describes Cathy as “a star… willful, mean, a recreational sadist, a provocateur.”
Finding someone with the charisma to pull that off, she says, wasn’t easy.
“Margot comes with big energy — that’s what Cathy needs.”
Fans Expect a Sexy Film — Robbie Says It’s Actually a Big Romance
The film’s marketing — including a now-viral first image showing a finger in Robbie’s mouth — sparked even more chatter, with many assuming the movie would be extremely erotic.
Robbie admits the movie is provocative, but says people might be surprised by its true tone.
“Everyone thinks it’s going to be very raunchy. But it’s more romantic than provocative,” she said.
She compared its emotional depth to classics like The Notebook and The English Patient, adding that Fennell’s storytelling style always aims to create a strong physical reaction.
Release Date
Wuthering Heights hits theaters on February 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
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