Key Highlights
- Alison Oliver and Hong Chau speak about adapting Emily Brontë’s classic novel into a modern film.
- The film stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, directed by Emerald Fennell.
- Oliver and Chau discuss the challenges of translating dense literature to screen.
- Fennell aims to bring the book’s spirit to life with a modern approach.
Wuthering Heights, the classic 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, is getting its latest Hollywood treatment. Stars Alison Oliver and Hong Chau share their insights on bringing this dense, complex story to the screen at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles.
The Adaptation Process
Oliver, who plays Isabella Linton, admits familiarity with the original novel but was drawn to Fennell’s unique vision. “With a book that dense and that complex, I think anyone who’s wanting to adapt it, you kind of have to zoom in and focus on the bits of it that you want to examine,” she said. “I just love what she’s done.”
Fennell herself has opened up about her approach. In September 2025, she told BBC News, “I want my adaptation to channel the book in a way that made me feel like I felt when I first read it.” This balance between tradition and modernity is key for the director.
Modernizing the Classic
Chau, who plays Nelly Dean, has purposefully kept her distance from the source material. “I want some distance from the movie and this whole experience and to be able to experience the book as its own thing,” she said. Her methodical approach ensures that the adaptation maintains its authenticity.
The Acting Experience
Elordi, who plays Heathcliff, shared his thoughts on capturing the characters’ unrequited love. “There’d be a moment where we’d be running hand-in-hand through the moors, maybe not even in the scene, just setting it up,” he said. “And in that moment, we really were a part of their love, for real.”
For Elordi and Robbie, the connection they felt on set was more than just acting. “It really did feel like we were catching little pieces of that unrequited love,” he added.
The Premiere and Beyond
The film premieres in theaters on February 13, 2026. With a cast including Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, and Alison Oliver and Hong Chau’s dedicated performances, Wuthering Heights aims to bridge the gap between classic literature and modern cinema.
