Dream Casting for Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights"

Emerald Fennell will direct a film adaptation of the iconic "Wuthering Heights". The 38-year-old director, known for "Promising Young Woman" and "Saltburn", announced her latest project on social media. She will bring her own take on Emily Bronte's classic Gothic romance to the big screen.

She teased fans with a cryptic graphic that read, "Be with me always. Take any form. Drive me mad."

The novel, originally published in 1847 by Bronte under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, weaves the doomed love tale of orphan Heathcliff and Catherine set against the bleak Yorkshire Moors. Deadline has reported that Fennell will team up once again with MRC, the studio behind The Crown, which also backed Saltburn.

Reflecting on her award-winning psychological thriller featuring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi, Fennell expressed her penchant for unsettling cinema, telling Deadline's Breaking Baz column: "If you're aiming to make something that sounds true, even if it's metaphorical and kind of Gothic, and there's something that makes people shift in their seats, it's because we're feeling something that maybe we shouldn't. That maybe we don't want to interrogate.

"And so there's no point in being provocative for the sake of it, but if you're kind of prodding at something uncomfortable, that's what movies are for. I stick my finger in."

So, with that in mind, who would I love to see take on these iconic roles under Fennell's creative vision? Here are my top picks.

Dev Patel as Heathcliff

Patel is a fantastic actor and one I think would do an incredible job at playing Heathcliff. I could go through his entire filmography with reasons why I think he would effortlessly bring this role to life. He can bring such range and vulnerability to his performances such as Lion, but his directorial debut with Monkey Man, he demonstrated his ability to play darker characters.

There's also the racial aspect of Wuthering Heights that is rarely portrayed on screen. I cover this in more detail in my Real Historical Accuracy article, but Heathcliff is described multiple times as "dark-skinned", and historians and critics have theorised that Heathcliff is most likely of Indian heritage or mixed race.

However, only Andrea Arnold’s 2011 adaptation has explored the book's racial themes with the casting of James Howson and Solomon Glave, who played Heathcliff's adult and younger versions, respectively. This is why I think Dev Patel would be perfectly cast in this role, not only based on his talent but also because it would explore a whole layer of this character that is rarely adapted from page to screen.

Jodie Comer as Catherine Earnshaw

Jodie Comer has had an equally impressive acting career. It would be incredible to see her play the tragic and complex heroine, Catherine Earnshaw. Her performances in "Thirteen," "Help," and "The End We Start From" showcase her ability to bring raw and authentic emotion to a dark story. Comer has the range and acting skills to humanise Catherine's tragic arc.

Jacob Eldori as Edgar Linton

After his recent collaboration with Fennell on Saltburn, I believe Jacob Eldori would be an ideal choice to portray Edgar Linton, Cathy’s love interest, and Heathcliff’s rival. He possesses the looks and charm, and with the guidance of the right director, this actor can capture both the light and dark moments in his characters. Edgar represents the safe option and, in many ways, the healthier choice, but he is fated to be entangled in a love triangle that ultimately concludes in tragedy. Given the spiral in which his character goes down in HBO's Euphoria, this character definitely fits his style.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Isabella Linton

I think Anya Taylor-Joy would be the perfect choice to play Isabella. Her character undergoes a significant transformation as Edgar's innocent sister. Initially infatuated with Heathcliff despite Catherine's warnings, Isabella becomes an unwitting participant in his plot for revenge against Edgar. Like many characters in this tragic tale, she is also a victim of the actions of Catherine and Heathcliff.

One of the most underrated portrayals of this character was by Nichola Burley in Andrea Arnold’s version, and I believe Taylor-Joy would capture the essence of this character's journey, similar to her performances in "Last Night in Soho" and "The Menu".

Joanne Froggatt as Nelly

Joanne Froggatt has not only been a brilliant screen actress but also a fantastic audiobook narrator. She has been cast as the narrator in Audible's audiobook adaptation, making her a perfect choice to play the book's narrator on screen as the Earnshaw’s housekeeper who finds herself at the heart of this doomed affair over many years.

While Froggatt is outstanding in Downton Abbey, she’s incredible in the audiobook version of Wuthering Heights. If you’re looking to read or re-read the book before the movie version is released, consider the unabridged audiobook.

Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson as Cathy Linton and Hereton Earnshaw

Usually, screen adaptations of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights primarily focus on Heathcliff, Catherine, and Edgar’s arcs and end with Catherine’s haunting of the Yorkshire moors. However, the original novel's non-linear narrative structure concludes with the second generation of characters breaking their parents’ toxic cycle.

After their brilliant performances in BBC and HBO’s His Dark Materials, it would be great to see Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson back on screen together as Cathy Linton and Hareton Earnshaw, two very different characters who are interesting parallels to Heathcliff and Catherine’s past storyline. If Fennell’s screenplay delves into that aspect of the book, Wilson and Keen would be strong candidates for these roles.

So, are you looking forward to this new imagining of Wuthering Heights? What do you think of these casting ideas and who would you like to see bring these characters to life?