Why Wuthering Heights Changed Emily Brontë’s Tragic Book Ending Explained By Director Emerald Fennell

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Emerald Fennell’s new take on Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights, is generating buzz for its steamy scenes and surprising change to the original ending. Be warned – spoilers ahead!

Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights has been adapted for the screen numerous times, with versions ranging from the 1992 film starring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes to Andrea Arnold’s 2011 movie featuring James Howson and Kaya Scodelario. Some adaptations closely follow the novel’s bleak and atmospheric story, while others take significant liberties. Even before it was released, the latest adaptation has faced questions about how true it remains to Brontë’s original work.

Emerald Fennell’s film version of the story, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, ended in a way that caught many book fans off guard. While the novel features a final, poignant meeting between Cathy and Heathcliff as she’s dying, the film keeps them separated in her last moments. Fennell explained to Entertainment Weekly that this surprising and sad choice was intentional and served a specific purpose in showing the nature of their relationship.

The original script had several similar scenes and speeches, so I streamlined those. I focused on the theme of missed connections, which is present in both Romeo and Juliet and the story of Isabella. I especially saw parallels with the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff, where a sense of longing and missing each other was central. To emphasize this, I moved some of the key romantic moments and conversations earlier in the story, giving their connection more time to develop instead of rushing it to the ending.

A key scene in the original story involves Cathy’s ghost appearing to Heathcliff, calling out to him on the moors. She’s typically depicted pleading to be with him again – a moment so powerful it even inspired a song by Kate Bush. However, according to Fennell, this scene was deliberately left out of her adaptation.

The story comes full circle, mirroring the nature of love itself. It’s a continuous cycle, meaning there’s no true ending, even when faced with heartbreak. The book explores the intensity of human emotion and its lasting impact, going beyond just what’s visible on the surface. Ultimately, this felt like the most fitting way to conclude the narrative.

The new movie adaptation of the classic, intense novel is now playing in theaters, and many are eager to see it. Critics and audiences have had different reactions, with Rotten Tomatoes giving the film a 64% critic score compared to an 84% audience score. Some reviewers praise the film for powerfully conveying the story’s emotions – its joys, pains, and harshness – while others feel it takes too many liberties with the original story and isn’t a true adaptation.

Wuthering Heights is available to watch in theaters now.

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2026-02-14 17:20