The new movie adaptation of Wuthering Heights, featuring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is sparking debate. Some viewers and critics feel it unnecessarily focuses on the characters’ sexuality, while others see it as a sign of things to come for classic literature on film. If Hollywood does decide to create more explicitly erotic adaptations, here are some books that would be ripe for the treatment.
Emerald Fennell’s upcoming 2026 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights explores the passionate and sensual side of the classic love story, adding new depth to the 179-year-old tale.
It’s natural to wonder which classic book Hollywood will adapt next. Here are a few strong contenders we’ve chosen.
5. “Lady Chatterly’s Lover”
Written By D.H. Lawrence; Published In 1929
While Lady Chatterley’s Lover doesn’t seem shocking by today’s standards, it was incredibly scandalous when first published. In fact, its publisher, Penguin, had to fight a well-known legal battle over its content before it could be sold in the UK in 1960, forty years after the book was written.
The book was a huge success. Lady Chatterley’s Lover was boldly sexual for its time, breaking new ground and influencing countless erotic novels that followed. While it’s been adapted for film and television several times, even recent versions haven’t fully conveyed the novel’s original sensuality.
The upcoming 2026 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights suggests it’s time for a bolder take on Lady Chatterley’s Lover. The novel’s frank discussion of its main character’s sexuality – and how it clashes with the social norms of her time – was surprisingly progressive for the early 1900s. Now, filmmakers have the opportunity to truly capture that story on film.
4. “The Picture Of Dorian Gray”
Written By Oscar Wilde; Published In 1890
At first glance, The Picture of Dorian Gray might seem like an unusual choice, but it’s actually ideal. Its themes feel incredibly current today. Decades before Lady Chatterley’s Lover pushed boundaries with its content, Dorian Gray was a remarkably forward-thinking novel, especially in its ideas. A new film version should really highlight that intellectual boldness.
Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray suggests a life of scandalous behavior, but the novel mostly hints at it rather than showing it. Many film adaptations have done the same, keeping the more explicit details unseen. It’s time for a Dorian Gray movie to be truly daring and show those scandalous behaviors, similar to the explicit content in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Fifty Shades of Grey.
The basic plot of The Picture of Dorian Gray has been adapted for film before, but a truly explicit and sensual version could powerfully illustrate the destructive consequences of the main character’s choices. This approach would deliver a fresh and unforgettable take on the story – one that would be impossible to ignore.
3. “Anna Karenina”
Written By Leo Tolstoy; Published In 1887
Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is a classic example of a doomed love story. Similar to Wuthering Heights, it reflects the strict social norms of its time. Like Victorian-era British novels, 19th-century Russian literature often hints at sexual desire rather than portraying it directly.
Despite numerous adaptations of Anna Karenina in Russian, American, and British film and television, the story hasn’t fully explored its underlying sensuality. While filmmakers understandably treat the source material with respect, this reverence has held back a truly modern and openly erotic interpretation.
While Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina doesn’t ignore the physical attraction between Anna and Vronsky, a film adaptation that fully explored their passionate relationship would offer a fresh take on the story. In fact, it could be exactly what the classic novel needs to resonate with modern audiences.
2. “Madame Bovary”
Written By Gustave Flaubert; Published In 1857
Originally, Madame Bovary was considered daring for its portrayal of female sexuality, but that aspect feels dated now. A new adaptation could emphasize the more scandalous elements to attract viewers. Ultimately, Bovary is a story about self-destruction, a theme that remains powerfully relevant and engaging for modern audiences despite being set in the 19th century.
Similar to other novels from that time, the affairs in Madame Bovary were considered shocking. For a modern retelling to work, it needs to acknowledge that the details of the sexual relationships are important. The recent adaptation of Wuthering Heights understands this, and it’s a potentially sensitive but crucial point.
The next film adaptation of Madame Bovary should show the story’s intensity, rather than simply telling it. It needs to be bold and unflinching, even if that means earning an NC-17 rating. Just as Gustave Flaubert challenged literary boundaries in 19th-century France, the film should push the limits of what’s considered acceptable in cinema.
1. “Mansfield Park”
Written By Jane Austen; Published In 1814
No list of classic literature would be complete without Jane Austen. Like Emily Brontë, who wrote Wuthering Heights a bit later, Austen’s novels were full of hidden passion, even though the writing itself had to be proper for the time period. That makes books like Mansfield Park perfect for modern updates with a bit more spice.
When adapting Mansfield Park for today’s audience, filmmakers should take inspiration from Emerald Fennell’s take on Wuthering Heights. Since this story has been retold many times, the next adaptation needs a fresh approach. The answer? Make it strikingly sensual. Consider it a natural progression of Jane Austen’s writing, updated for a modern sensibility and reflecting how the story might evolve over two centuries.
While novels like Mansfield Park offer much more than just love stories – and that’s true of all the books mentioned – film adaptations often understandably focus on the underlying sexual tension. The recent Wuthering Heights movie is a prime example, and it’s sure to spark a strong response from viewers.
What are your thoughts? Should “Wuthering Heights” spark a trend of adaptations that focus heavily on sex? Or did the recent movie cross the line?
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2026-02-20 22:12