CONFIRMED: Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights Casting SPARKS Massive “Whitewashing” Backlash

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the first set leaks. We aren’t just looking at a “modern twist” on a classic; we are witnessing the total Instagram-ification of English literature’s darkest novel. Emerald Fennell (of Saltburn fame) has officially cast Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in her adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and the internet has absolutely exploded.

Why? Because this casting doesn’t just bend the rules of Emily Brontë’s masterpiece—it breaks them, sets them on fire, and dances on the ashes to a Charli XCX track.

The “Whitewashed” Heathcliff Scandal

Let’s rip the band-aid off: Heathcliff is not supposed to be white.

Brontë describes him explicitly as a “dark-skinned gypsy” and a “little Lascar” (a 19th-century term for an Indian sailor). His entire character arc—his abuse, his alienation, his status as an “other” in Victorian society—is predicated on his race. Casting Jacob Elordi, a 6’5″ white Australian heartthrob who looks like he just walked off a Calvin Klein runway, fundamentally misunderstands the source material.

I’ve been tracking the hashtag #NotMyHeathcliff, and the fury is justified. Fans are calling this “erasure.” In an era where we finally got a historically accurate Heathcliff in Andrea Arnold’s 2011 version, reverting to a “yassified” white boy for the TikTok generation feels like a massive step backward. It strips the story of its racial commentary and turns a tale of generational trauma into a glossy CW drama.

“Barbie on the Moors”: Why Fans Are Hating the Vibe

Then there is Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw. Look, I love Margot. She is a powerhouse. But Catherine is supposed to be a wild, feral, slightly unhinged teenager who haunts the moors like a ghost before she actually becomes one.

The leaked dailies don’t show a girl driven mad by isolation; they show a polished movie star in a $10,000 designer gown that looks vaguely “period-ish” but mostly just expensive. Reports from the set suggest Fennell is leaning into a “Pop-Gothic” aesthetic—think Saltburn meets Bridgerton on acid. We’re hearing rumors of latex costumes, skin-printed wallpaper (yes, really), and a soundtrack that features modern pop bangers instead of wind and violins.

The backlash is clear: We didn’t want a music video. We wanted the grit, the dirt, and the horror of the Yorkshire moors. Instead, we’re getting “Moorcore” fashion spreads.

Technical Breakdown: Style Over Substance?

Visually, Fennell is undoubtedly talented. The leaks suggest she is shooting on 35mm film (likely Kodak Vision3) to get that grainy, tactile look. But the lighting? It’s too clean.

In the “Window Scene”—arguably the most iconic moment in the book—the lighting setup seen in the BTS shots looks like a high-fashion perfume commercial. High-contrast, neon gels, and soft beauty lighting on Robbie’s face. Where is the candlelit terror? Where is the gloom? Using an Arri Alexa 35 with vintage rehoused lenses is a great choice for texture, but if you grade it to look like a hyper-saturated fever dream, you lose the gothic soul of the story.

Disclaimer: This article presents independent analysis based on available casting news, production leaks, and early critical reception. These critiques regarding creative choices are speculative and based on preliminary materials. A final assessment is pending theatrical release.

Final Verdict: A Billion-Dollar Mistake?

Emerald Fennell is betting that “vibes” and star power will outweigh literary accuracy. But Wuthering Heights isn’t a romance; it’s a horror story.

Do you care about book accuracy, or are you just here for the Margot x Jacob chemistry? Let me know in the comments.