Wuthering Heights; The Novel and The Movie(2026)

Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë’s only novel, first published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell, remains one of the most haunting pieces of English literature.

The Novel: 

Into this landscape comes Mr. Earnshaw, who brings home an orphan whom he named Heathcliff and one that he will raise with his children. Described as “like a gipsy” this dark skinned strange boy was resented by the Earnshaw’s children. However, Heathcliff soon develops a love bond with Catherine. But Earnshaw’s own son, Hindley, resents him deeply, partly because Heathcliff is also his father’s favorite. The family tension grows sharp as a knife.

Much of the story is told through two narrators: Mr. Lockwood, a newcomer to the area, and Ellen “Nelly” Dean, the housekeeper, who explores the life of the Earnshaws and Lintons. Carrying the emotional burden, Nelly narrates the betrayal, every secret Nelly between Catherine, Heathcliff, and the rest.

Catherine’s love for Heathcliff is so fierce, passionate yet destructive. She later married Edgar, who is considered more gentle, refined and also for her social advancement. Hearthcliff disappeared for sometime but returned shortly after Catherine’s marriage to Edgar. He came back more wealthy, powerful but hurt. His return, this time is not as a servant but for revenge. He acquired both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, and dealt with everyone who hurt him.

Catherine, meanwhile, gives birth to a daughter (also named Cathy) but dies shortly after giving birth. Heathcliff was in pain, calling out her ghost to haunt him till he died. Heathcliff later married Isabella who ran away when she saw Heathcliff’s devotion to a dead woman.

Heathcliff decided to carry on with his vengeance even to the next generation. He forced a marriage between his son Linton and young Cathy, although the two later grow in love amidst the manipulation.

Later on, Heathcliff becomes consumed with his love for the dead Catherine to a point where he begins communicating with his ghost. He dies in her old room, and there are rumors that their ghosts now walk together.

Catherine chooses Edgar for stability, yet her soul is with Heathcliff. That tension rings through so many modern stories about class, identity, and the cost of “practical” choices. Heathcliff on the other hand has always been considered an outsider, he felt deeply wronged and never fully welcomed.

The 2026 Film Adaptation

2026 is about to bring a new Wuthering Heights into the cinemas and it promises to be bold. This time, it’s by Emerald Fennell, who writes and directs. If you know her work like Promising Young Woman, Saltburn, you’ll know she is going to bring the novel to life.

Cast & Characters

• Margot Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw.
• Jacob Elordi takes on Heathcliff.
• Supporting roles: Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton, Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, and Hong Chau as Nelly Dean.

There’s been some conversation about casting Elordi, particularly around the portrayal of Heathcliff, who in the novel is often interpreted as having a non-European or “gypsy”-like origin. But Fennell has defended her vision, calling the story “primal” and “sexual,” focused more on emotional truth than literal race.

Production & Filming

• Filming took place in the UK from late January to early April 2025.
• The cinematographer is Linus Sandgren, and they shot on 35mm VistaVision.
• Locations include the Yorkshire Dales: valleys like Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, the village of Low Row, and parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Release & Distribution

Initially, Netflix showed interest, but in the end, Warner won at around $80 million, giving Fennell and Robbie what they wanted: a theatrical release and a big marketing push. The release will be on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026 in the United States and the United Kingdom. Romantic? Maybe. Ironic? Probably

Teaser & Tone

The teaser trailer dropped in 2025, and it’s intense.

Her Wuthering Heights wouldn’t just be a love story, but raw, dangerous, revenge and everything in between.

What Happens Then and Now

When Emily Brontë wrote Wuthering Heights, it wasn’t a conventional romance. Critics of her time were scandalized by its “vulgar depravity” and its refusal to moralize. She turned inward on obsession, revenge, class, and spiritual torment. The story didn’t wrap up neatly, and neither do its characters.

Yet, after all these years, Wuthering Heights refuses to feel dated. Why? Because at its core, it’s about raw human longings. Heathcliff’s fury, Catherine’s torn soul, the injustice of being an outsider, those feelings are valid and they are still loud.

And now, in 2026, Fennell’s movie gives us a chance to revisit and feel the novel on screen.

Wuthering Heights isn’t a simple love story. It’s a storm. And the 2026 film? It looks like more than just a retelling. It’s a reawakening. A way for us to lean into the wind, feel the damp chill, and understand that some ghosts never really leave.