Home / Arts and Entertainment / Fennell's Wuthering Heights: Casting Controversy Ignites
Fennell's Wuthering Heights: Casting Controversy Ignites
7 Feb
Summary
- Director Emerald Fennell faces backlash over alleged nepotism in casting.
- Margot Robbie returns to work five months after childbirth for the role.
- Critics question casting of 'too old' Robbie and 'too handsome' Elordi.
Filmmaker Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights is generating significant controversy, particularly within the acting community. Accusations of nepotism and a lack of fair audition processes have surfaced regarding the casting choices.
Sources suggest that Fennell's frequent collaborators, including LuckyChap Entertainment – a production company co-founded by lead actress Margot Robbie – were favored. Robbie, who plays Catherine Earnshaw, reportedly lobbied for the role and returned to work only five months after giving birth to her first child. Jacob Elordi, who previously starred in Fennell's Saltburn, has been cast as Heathcliff, a decision that also drew criticism.
Concerns have been raised about the age appropriateness of Robbie, 35, for the role of an 18-year-old Catherine, and Elordi's classically handsome appearance has led some to accuse Fennell of 'whitewashing' the character, who is described as being of Romany descent in the novel. Furthermore, the lack of British actors in key roles and Robbie's Home Counties accent have also been points of contention.
Despite the backlash, Fennell and her team reportedly believe their casting decisions are justified, viewing the novel as open to interpretation. The film's impending release on Valentine's Day eve is anticipated to attract considerable attention, fueled in part by the surrounding controversies and the on-screen chemistry between Robbie and Elordi.
