Is Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights the Most Chaotic Literary Adaptation Ever Made? The Trailers Say YES .

If movie studios ever decide to release trailers long after a film hits theaters, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights will be the reason. The steady drip of footage—chaotic, sensual, lavish, and increasingly unhinged—has turned what should have been a straightforward literary adaptation into a cultural meltdown happening in real time. And honestly? We need more movies that produce this exact level of gleeful madness.

The newest trailer marks yet another tonal pivot and feels like a companion rather than a correction to the earlier teaser that made the internet lose its collective mind. That first preview leaned hard into Fennell’s signature grotesque-glam aesthetic: writhing bodies, sticky textures, dough kneaded in ways that were… suggestive, and an assortment of close-ups that felt like ASMR for degenerates. It dropped right after rumors of outrageous test screenings involving nuns, bodily fluids, and scenes no one could possibly verify—but many secretly hoped were real.

This fresh trailer widens the lens. Instead of pure sensual chaos, we get sweeping romance: ornate interiors, windswept landscapes, wide skies, and dresses that look like they were stitched out of Victorian fever dreams. There’s a doll-like Margot Robbie manipulated by a giant hand, a crimson sunset straight out of The Searchers behind Jacob Elordi on horseback, and yes—everyone still makes out with that memorable pink flesh-wall.

Is all of this simply marketing? Absolutely. But it’s marketing that knows exactly who it’s talking to. The first trailer spoke to the hedonists. This one targets the literary purists. The next will surely woo epic-fantasy romantics, and the one after that will cater to the moody, storm-obsessed crowd. It’s sizzle over steak—and Wuthering Heights is currently nothing BUT sizzle.

Fennell’s take on Emily Brontë’s novel was always going to divide audiences, especially because Wuthering Heights has been adapted over a thousand times (no exaggeration). At this point, demanding strict fidelity misses the point. Fresh angles keep the story alive. Even casting choices have sparked debate. Many weren’t convinced Jacob Elordi had enough bite to play Heathcliff, but his recent turn as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein proved he’s capable of far more than brooding detachment. Robbie, meanwhile, has long passed the point of needing to prove anything—her Catherine looks like a cocktail of Barbie, Nellie LaRoy, Elizabeth I, and pure gothic hysteria.

The real curveball, though, is Hong Chau as Nelly Dean. So many adaptations push Nelly into the background, even though she’s the spine of the novel—equal parts narrator, puppet-master, and unreliable witness. Giving that role to an actress known for quiet, devastating performances signals that Fennell understands exactly how crucial Nelly truly is.

And then, of course, there’s the eternal question: is Wuthering Heights really “the greatest love story ever told,” as the trailer boldly insists? Depends who you ask. It’s a story of longing, possession, cruelty, obsession—love, perhaps, only in the sense that love can consume and ruin. But the film openly brands itself “inspired by” Brontë rather than strictly “based on” it, which tells us one thing: fidelity is not Fennell’s priority. Emotional truth is.

For now, we have months to argue about it—and likely years more if Fennell’s imaginary sequel, 2 Wuthering 2 Furious, ever becomes real (and don’t pretend you wouldn’t watch it).

Wuthering Heights storms into theaters on Valentine’s Day 2026. Prepare for impact.

FAQ

Is Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights faithful to the book?

It appears to take major creative liberties, framing itself as “inspired by” the novel rather than strictly adapting it.

Why is the movie already controversial?

Early test screening rumors, bold stylistic choices, casting debates, and heavily sensual imagery have fueled strong reactions online.

Who stars in the film?

Margot Robbie as Catherine, Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, and Hong Chau as Nelly Dean.

When will the film be released?

It is scheduled for release on 14 February 2026.

Is the film a romance?

It’s more accurately a story about obsession, destruction, and emotional violence—but with romantic overtones.