The Yorkshire Moors are about to get a fresh, gothic twist. Emerald Fennell, the acclaimed filmmaker behind “Saltburn” and “Promising Young Woman,” has teased her upcoming film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic 1847 novel, “Wuthering Heights.” The announcement came via a social media post featuring a graphic with the haunting line from the novel: “Be with me always – Take any form – Drive me mad.”
Fennell’s adaptation will see her reuniting with MRC, the studio that backed her recent hit “Saltburn.” This news has sparked considerable excitement among fans and industry insiders alike, given Fennell’s knack for blending dark themes with compelling storytelling.
“Wuthering Heights” has seen numerous adaptations over the years. Notable versions include William Wyler’s 1939 film starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, Robert Fuest’s 1970 movie with Timothy Dalton and Anna Calder-Marshall, and Peter Kosminsky’s 1992 film featuring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. The story has also been adapted for television, with TV movies in 2009 and 2011, and series in 1978 and 1998.
Fennell’s latest film, “Saltburn,” released in 2023, has been widely discussed for its heavy gothic influence. The film stars Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan, the latter of whom delivers a memorable performance that includes a scene where he drinks bathwater. This gothic sensibility is something Fennell has long been drawn to. In a January 2024 column for the Los Angeles Times, she wrote, “I’ve always been obsessed with the gothic. Whether it was Edward Gorey’s children who are variously choked by peaches, sucked dry by leeches or smothered by rugs; Du Maurier’s imperiled heroines or the disturbing erotic power of Angela Carter’s fairy tales, the gothic world has always had me in its grip. It’s a genre where comedy and horror, revulsion and desire, sex and death are forever entwined, where every exchange is heavy with the threat of violence, or sex or both.”
Fennell’s body of work includes the 2020 rape-revenge thriller “Promising Young Woman,” which earned five Oscar nominations, and her role as head writer and executive producer for Season 2 of “Killing Eve.” Her unique ability to weave dark, complex narratives has made her one of the most exciting filmmakers of her generation.
The announcement of Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” adaptation has already generated a buzz online. Fans are eager to see how she will bring her distinctive style to Brontë’s tale of obsession and desire. The novel, published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell a year before Brontë’s death, is set in the Yorkshire moors and revolves around the intense and often destructive relationships between two families: the Earnshaws and the Lintons. The story is framed by Mr. Lockwood, a tenant at Thrushcross Grange, who learns about the tumultuous history of Wuthering Heights through Nelly Dean, a long-time servant. At its core, the novel is a passionate and tragic love story between Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Mr. Earnshaw, and Mr. Earnshaw’s daughter, Catherine.
The novel’s numerous adaptations over the years have each brought their own interpretation to the story. The most recent film adaptation was directed by Andrea Arnold in 2011, starring Kaya Scodelario and James Howson. Before that, Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche starred in Peter Kosminsky’s 1992 version, and Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon led William Wyler’s 1939 film.
Fennell’s upcoming adaptation is particularly intriguing given her recent work on “Saltburn,” a psychological thriller that premiered at Telluride and went on to receive two Golden Globe nominations and five BAFTA Film Awards. The film stars Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, a student at Oxford University who becomes entangled in the lives of an aristocratic family. The cast also includes Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Archie Madekwe, and Alison Oliver. “Saltburn” explores themes of obsession, class dynamics, and privilege, making it a fitting precursor to Fennell’s take on “Wuthering Heights.”
Before “Saltburn,” Fennell made her directorial debut with “Promising Young Woman,” a darkly comic revenge thriller starring Carey Mulligan. The film, distributed by Focus Features, earned Fennell an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and nominations for Best Picture, Director, Actress, and Editing.
In addition to her work behind the camera, Fennell is also an accomplished actress. She garnered an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Camilla Parker Bowles on Netflix’s “The Crown.” She is represented by UTA, United Agents in the UK, Entertainment 360, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
As fans eagerly await more details about Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights,” one thing is clear: her adaptation promises to bring a fresh, gothic twist to Brontë’s timeless tale of love and revenge.
Source: Variety, Deadline, Screen Daily
