Image Credit: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
It’s practically a given that cinematic adaptations of books will stray from their source. Now that Emerald Fennell‘s interpretation of Wuthering Heights is playing in cinemas, devotees of Emily Brontë‘s 1847 literary work are spotting numerous alterations. The picture stars prominent actors Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. And just in case you aren’t familiar with their saga, it isn’t a typical happy ending.
Therefore, in what ways do the novel and the film stack up against one another? Here, Hollywood Life offers an analysis of the disparities you can anticipate on the silver screen as opposed to the printed version. (Note: spoilers follow for the Wuthering Heights film)
How Is It Possible To See the Wuthering Heights Film?
Warner Bros. premiered the movie in theaters on February 13, 2026, so fans are able to view it in a movie theater. An online release date hasn’t been revealed as of yet, though it is probable that it will be accessible on HBO Max in the coming months.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
In What Ways Do the Wuthering Heights Book & the Film Differ?
The most prominent contrasts regarding the film involve the omission of Cathy’s older sibling, Hindley; Cathy’s father actually being a cruel oppressor; the nonexistence of Mr. Lockwood; and, obviously, the various lovemaking scenes. The novel only emphasizes Catherine and Heathcliff’s painful, restrained sentiments for each other, while the movie displays several personal encounters. Furthermore, the movie concludes with Cathy’s passing, whereas the novel delves into Cathy and Edgar’s daughter’s narrative.
While in discussion with Entertainment Weekly leading up to the film’s debut, the actress and director justified the choices she and her colleagues made for the film.
“When you consider not just other film versions of this, but Kate Bush’s track, or Balthus’ artworks, or many of the present-day drawings, most of them lean toward Cathy and Heathcliff,” she clarified. “Since I believe that’s truly the point that comes to a conclusion in the novel. … And truly, I would create a limited series and encompass the complete story over 10 hours, and it would be exquisite. Nevertheless, if you’re creating a film, and you’re required to be fairly focused, you must make those types of challenging choices.”
Concerning the characters she’d “somewhat neglected or combined” into one, Emerald mentioned that there was “a degree of idealistic hope in there.” She additionally emphasized the manner in which the misfortune of Romeo & Juliet factors in.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
“There are approximately three separate gatherings and three separate addresses, and so a portion of it was integrating that,” Emerald stated. “Although, we also discuss Romeo and Juliet frequently, and of course, when we come across Isabella, she’s talking about that sort of tale and about that neglected aspect, and I truly feel that Cathy and Heathcliff’s [bond] revolved around missing one another. Therefore, what I did was I propelled a lot of the affection ahead, and a lot of those notably important discussions forward, to allow them some time so that it didn’t simply occur at the conclusion.”
Regarding why she opted to finish the film upon Cathy’s demise, without exploring anything further in the plot, Emerald admitted, “It starts where it ends and concludes where it starts.”
“And that’s the truth about affection, and it’s the truth about the novel, correct? It’s that it’s endless and it’s recurring, and consequently there’s no conclusion — even when there’s an awful, miserable, unfortunate conclusion, it’s not actually a conclusion — simply because that’s what the novel conveys so much of,” Emerald wrapped up. “It revolves around the intensity of human emotion and how it manifests in a deep manner, not simply a physical one. And so that, I’m unsure, that seemed like the proper way to conclude it for me.”