Wuthering Heights Casting Sparks Debate: Is Heathcliff White?

A forthcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the central tragic lovers Cathy and Heathcliff, has ignited considerable debate regarding the casting of Heathcliff. Critics and fans point to Brontë's novel, which describes Heathcliff as having "dark skin" and being a "gipsy," suggesting the character is canonically non-white and that racially charged insults are hurled at him.

Director Emerald Fennell has defended her casting decisions, telling The Hollywood Reporter that her interpretation was based on the version of Heathcliff she imagined when reading the book. Fennell also noted to BBC News that Jacob Elordi resembled the illustration of Heathcliff in her personal copy of the novel. The controversy intensified as British actor Shazad Latif, who has Pakistani heritage, was cast as Edgar Linton, leading some to suggest he would have been a more fitting Heathcliff.

This casting choice has drawn comparisons to previous adaptations, many of which featured white actors in the role of Heathcliff, including Laurence Olivier (1939), Ralph Fiennes (1992), and Tom Hardy (2009). Some commentators have noted that while Elordi and Robbie are Australian, their characters' Yorkshire accents will be a point of interest. Others have suggested that the actors lack the "psychologically tortured vibes" required for the characters, advocating for "weirder" casting.

Despite the criticism, alternative perspectives highlight existing adaptations that aligned with a non-white Heathcliff. The 2011 film, directed by Andrea Arnold and starring James Howson as Heathcliff, has been cited as an example of accurate representation. Casting director Kharmel Cochrane addressed the backlash, suggesting that accuracy is not paramount in artistic adaptations, stating, "You really don't need to be accurate. It's just a book."