‘Wuthering Heights’ trailer: Emerald Fennell unleashes erotic twist on the Brontë classic

If you thought bread kneading was just a kitchen activity, Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ trailer will make you think again.

The first teaser at her version of ‘Wuthering Heights’ turns everyday gestures like tightening a corset, cracking eggs, or kneading dough into loaded symbols of desire and frustration. It’s clearly not your grandmother’s take on Emily Brontë’s gothic classic.

Advertisement

Instead, this one simmers with raw passion. Glances last quite long. And, a Yorkshire wind that feels almost alive.

Fennell stormed Hollywood with ‘Promising Young Woman’. This got her an Oscar for best original screenplay in 2021. In 2023, she shocked audiences with her visually daring 2023 thriller ‘Saltburn’.

Fast forward to 2025, she has chosen to reimagine Brontë’s 1847 novel. This is a tale already famous for its obsession, revenge, and tragic romance.

Catch the ‘Wuthering Heights’ trailer here:

And she hasn’t come alone. ‘Barbie’ star and producer Margot Robbie steps into the world of moors and madness, joined by Jacob Elordi. Owen Cooper, known for ‘Adolescence’ joins in, too. Together, they form the heart of this daring adaptation.

The trailer suggests Fennell isn’t interested in staying faithful to a safe, traditional version. Instead, she leans into the physical and emotional chaos that Brontë only hinted at in her 19th-century text.

Also Read: Disney unveils ‘TRON: Ares’ poster and trailer, Indian fans get multilingual release

There are scenes of Elordi working bare-chested under the sun, hands covered in dirt; Robbie tightening a corset until breathing looks impossible; and bread dough being pressed and pulled with a kind of dangerous intensity.

At its core, ‘Wuthering Heights’ remains a story about the destructive love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. It is a love that refuses boundaries, whether social, moral, or personal, and one that leaves ruin in its path.

Fennell also keeps the novel’s exploration of class alive, highlighting the clash between the Earnshaws and the wealthy Lintons. But from what we’ve seen, she is layering in a lot more heat than Brontë probably imagined.

The casting of Elordi as Heathcliff has sparked its own storm. In Brontë’s original novel, Heathcliff is described as having dark skin, leading some fans to question the choice of casting a fair-skinned actor.

‘Wuthering Heights’ has been adapted many times over the decades, from William Wyler’s classic 1939 film to Andrea Arnold’s gritty 2011 version.

Each filmmaker has brought their own interpretation to Brontë’s stormy moors. But only a few have dared to push the sensuality and darkness as far as Fennell appears to be going.

With Valentine’s Day 2026 set as its release date, this film aims to position itself as a daring, unconventional romance to challenge the usual love stories that dominate the holiday.

Getting back to the trailer, it has already sparked conversation. Viewers remain divided. They are not sure if they call it an excitement, or unease.