With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the world of cinema is set to be swept up in a storm of passion, heartbreak, and intrigue—thanks to the highly anticipated release of Emerald Fennell’s new adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Arriving in theaters on February 13, 2026, this bold reimagining of Emily Brontë’s 1847 classic novel promises to set pulses racing, not just with its star power but with a fresh, contemporary vision that has already stirred up conversation among fans and critics alike.
Fennell, who earned widespread acclaim (and an Academy Award) for her razor-sharp work on Promising Young Woman, returns to the director’s chair and the writer’s desk for this project. She’s joined by a cast that reads like a who’s who of modern cinema: Margot Robbie, the Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated star of Barbie, steps into the role of the tempestuous Catherine Earnshaw, while Jacob Elordi, known for his breakout performance in Frankenstein and more recently in Fennell’s own Saltburn, takes on the brooding, tormented Heathcliff. The supporting cast is no less impressive, featuring Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, BAFTA winner Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell, according to Flickering Myth.
Warner Bros. has gone all out to promote the film’s release, unveiling three eye-catching new posters and a behind-the-scenes featurette that offers a tantalizing glimpse into the production. The marketing push has been designed to seduce moviegoers, with the studio banking on the enduring appeal of Brontë’s tale and the magnetic chemistry of its leads. As Flickering Myth puts it, this is “a bold and original imagining of one of the greatest love stories of all time,” promising an epic tale where “forbidden passion… turns from romantic to intoxicating.”
It’s not just the marketing that’s generating buzz. The casting and the film’s trailer have already sparked heated debate online. Archie Madekwe, who starred alongside Elordi in Saltburn and is himself nominated for the 2026 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, weighed in with words of encouragement for fans to keep an open mind. Speaking to Metro, Madekwe said, “I think that especially with any kind of literature that feels close to people, they feel very protective, but remember that this is also an artist that is giving you an adaptation through her eyes so just take that in stride and be open – and I’m so excited to see what she did. What a cast, I just cannot wait to see all those people on screen!”
Fennell’s adaptation isn’t the first time Wuthering Heights has graced the silver screen—far from it. Over nearly 180 years, the novel has inspired countless film and television versions. But Fennell’s vision promises something different, something that’s already got people talking (and maybe arguing) before it even opens. In an interview with Fandango correspondent Nikki Novak, Fennell discussed her early vision for the film and what drew her to reinterpret Brontë’s work for a modern audience. She was joined by Elordi, Robbie, and co-stars Alison Oliver, Hong Chau, and Shazad Latif for a wide-ranging conversation about bringing the classic to life in 2026.
One of the most buzzed-about aspects of the new adaptation is the on-screen chemistry between Elordi and Robbie. Elordi himself opened up about the emotional intensity he and Robbie shared during filming, noting how they worked to channel the all-consuming, sometimes destructive love between Heathcliff and Catherine. As he put it in the interview, the romantic tension was palpable, and the cast as a whole “felt the emotional intensity between Heathcliff and Catherine.”
Fennell’s reputation for specificity and vision hasn’t gone unnoticed by her cast. Madekwe, reflecting on his experience working with her on Saltburn, described it as “a very particular experience… very strange, but also amazing and really special to be a part of a film that has that much of a cultural impact and really well deserved for Emerald [Fennell, the writer-director]. She’s so specific about her filmmaking, she’s such a genius.” He went on to say that the cast always sensed they were “a part of something special because of the way that Emerald spoke about it, and because of the writing, and because of the feeling that she created on set.”
Madekwe’s own star is very much on the rise, with his nomination for the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award 2026 marking a significant milestone. He’s in good company, with fellow nominees including Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Miles Caton (Sinners), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), and Posy Sterling (Lollipop). The winner will be announced at the EE BAFTA Film Awards on February 22, 2026. Madekwe’s nomination is rooted in his work on Lurker, which he also produced, but his connection to Fennell and the current buzz around Wuthering Heights only adds to the excitement. He revealed that he had texted Fennell about the film and was planning to see it soon.
Meanwhile, Posy Sterling, another nominee, has been candid about how her role in Lollipop reinvigorated her passion for acting. She told Metro, “I’ll be honest with you, that was how I was feeling and in fact, Lucy Pardy, the casting director, wrote a letter in support of my Screen Star of Tomorrow Award and she said in that: ‘I’m so pleased you didn’t give up on the industry’… But it felt like, if it’s not going to be this [role], and I feel so passionately about it… it may have been that I stepped away.” Sterling has since used her platform to campaign for social care and maternal imprisonment reform, channeling her energy into causes she cares deeply about.
For those eager to experience Fennell’s vision firsthand, Wuthering Heights will be available in theaters starting February 13, 2026, with tickets already on sale. Warner Bros.’ promotional blitz, the star-studded cast, and the director’s reputation for subverting expectations all but guarantee that this adaptation will be a major talking point—whether you’re a die-hard Brontë devotee or simply a lover of sweeping, cinematic romance. As Madekwe wisely advised, perhaps the best approach is to “be open” and see what fresh passions this new Wuthering Heights will ignite.
With a cast and creative team this formidable, and a legacy as rich as Brontë’s, it’s no wonder anticipation is running high. The world will soon see what happens when classic literature meets the singular vision of Emerald Fennell—and if early reactions are anything to go by, audiences should brace themselves for a wild, unforgettable ride.
