Wuthering Heights director Emerald Fennell Addresses Backlash Over Jacob Elordi Casting
Director Emerald Fennell has finally addressed the ongoing backlash surrounding her latest project's lead actor, Jacob Elordi. The Australian actor, who is white, was cast as Heathcliff in the new film adaptation, a character historically regarded as racially ambiguous by literary scholars. In Emily Brontë's novel, Heathcliff is described as a 'dark-skinned gypsy' with 'black eyes' and a 'swarthy complexion'.
Fennell, whose directorial portfolio includes Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, revealed her focus was directed towards other aspects of the source material while adapting it. She stated, 'I think I was focussing on the sado-masochistic elements of [the character]. But that's the great thing about this movie. There are so many different takes.'
The announcement of Elordi's casting sent fans of the source material into an uproar, with many online criticising Fennell's choice to hire a white actor for the role. Some fans threatened to boycott the film altogether, stating, 'I'm not watching this.' Others came to Fennell's defence, throwing their support behind the project. The casting director, Kharmel Cochrane, has previously spoken out about the two leads' perceived 'mis-castings', informing devoted fans that the adaptation did not 'need to be accurate'.
Despite the controversy, Fennell remains focused on her vision for the film. She stated, 'You can only ever make the movie that you sort of imagined yourself when you read it.' The film's stacked cast also includes Hollywood up-and-comer Owen Cooper, Hong Chau, and Shazad Latif.
