Movies

Wuthering Heights

BBG News

It appears there’s been a bit of a predicament regarding the extravagant adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Quite a few people have expressed doubts about their suitability for portraying Cathy and Heathcliff respectively.

Currently, the casting director has voiced her thoughts on the ongoing controversy. Kharmel Cochrane discussed this matter during a Q&A at the Sands International Film Festival of St. Andrews, and unfortunately, her comments only intensified the debate. “Certainly, there will be English literature enthusiasts who won’t be pleased,” she stated, expressing her thoughts through the event.

However, English literature enthusiasts, who are the intended audience for this movie, are notably defensive about their favorite genre. Admittedly, in this situation, they may have overstepped boundaries a bit – Cochrane remembered encountering a message threatening the casting director with violence regarding the film. The crux of the controversy, however, lies in this protective fervor.

In the casting for the new adaptation, Elordi, a Caucasian actor, has been chosen to portray Heathcliff. However, this character is explicitly depicted as having dark skin in the original novel, which distinguishes him from the other characters. Unfortunately, some fans of the book are disheartened that yet another instance of casting white actors for roles originally intended for non-white individuals has occurred, particularly given the current time when it was believed Hollywood had moved away from such practices, often referred to as “whitewashing.

Cochrane stated to the upset fans, “Just wait and see, then decide whether you want to criticize me or not… However, it doesn’t have to be precise. This is just a fictional work. It’s not derived from reality; it’s all creative expression.” This remark has sparked considerable anger among them.

“One angry user wrote: ‘This is merely a book, yet it’s the only one Emily Brontë ever published before her death, and under a male pseudonym. Let’s show some due respect for her name,'”

Other individuals joined in the discussion about the “English literature” post. One user posed, “Why create a film that primarily appeals to English Literature enthusiasts and then intentionally craft elements intended to irritate them? What is it with Hollywood that they persistently do this?

The Costume Design Is Also Under Fire

As the casting director, Cochrane doesn’t have much control over costumes. However, she mentioned that one backstage photo of Robbie wearing a very contemporary wedding dress certainly stirred up fans. “Just wait until you see the set design – it’s even more surprising… And there might or might not be a dog collar involved,” she hinted.

The dispute surrounding the film isn’t likely to resolve itself quickly, and its director, Emerald Fennell, has yet to address it. However, beneath the jabs about Hollywood altering an iconic novel lies significant pain, stemming from the casting of a traditionally non-white character with a white actor.

Read More

2025-04-29 20:54

Previous post Fear Street Easter Egg in Prom Queen Trailer Sparks Excitement and Major Concerns!
Next post How to Get Umbra Sword in Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered?