Jacob Elordi's Heathcliff: Wuthering Heights Casting Explained

Variety

by Arushi Jacob

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Jacob Elordi’s casting as Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s new adaptation of *Wuthering Heights* has sparked significant controversy among fans and literary experts. The film, which cuts the second half of Brontë’s novel and amps up the romance angle, has faced backlash for its portrayal of Heathcliff, a character explicitly described as a dark-skinned man in the book. Critics argue that Elordi, an Australian actor with no apparent connection to the racial or cultural nuances of the character, undermines the novel’s exploration of race, Otherness, and colonialism. This decision has been met with outrage on social media, with fans calling it a whitewashing of a deeply complex figure. Heathcliff’s ambiguous origins are central to his identity in *Wuthering Heights*. Found as a child in Liverpool, a major slave-trading port, he is subjected to racist abuse by Hindley Earnshaw and others. His description as a “dark-skinned gipsy” and the novel’s use of terms like “Lascar” and “imp of Satan” highlight his status as an outsider in Victorian society. Scholars debate Heathcliff’s possible heritage—whether he is Roma, mixed-race, or of Indian or Chinese descent—and argue that this ambiguity was intentional. Claire O’Callaghan, a Victorian literature expert, explains that Brontë’s deliberate use of racial Otherness makes Heathcliff a powerful symbol of oppression and marginalization. The casting争议 reflects broader concerns about how adaptations handle race and cultural identity. Critics argue that Fennell’s film, by focusing on romance and removing key plot points, trivializes the novel’s exploration of systemic racism and colonialism. This decision not only misrepresents Heathcliff but also risks losing the essence of his character’s struggle against societal prejudice. For readers and viewers interested in entertainment, this issue highlights the importance of authentic representation in storytelling and the potential consequences of prioritizing marketability over fidelity to source material.

Verticals

entertainmentfilm

Originally published on Variety on 2/13/2026