Since Emily Brontë’s novel was published in 1847, “Wuthering Heights” has been adapted more than a dozen times for film and television around the world, including versions from the United States, Britain, France, Mexico, India, Japan and the Philippines. 

The first screen adaptation was a silent film in 1920, and the story has been reimagined repeatedly across generations. Some of the most notable versions include the 1939 classic starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, the 1992 adaptation led by Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche and the 2009 ITV miniseries featuring Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley.

With themes of obsession, revenge, class and love—it is easy to see why it appeals to so many generations and cultures. A classic, the story has a built-in fanbase and can be reinterpreted in so many ways, across gender, race and from period piece to modern retelling. 

Emerald Fennell will direct the newest adaptation, which will premiere in theaters on February 13. Two-time Oscar nominee Margot Robbie will lead as Catherine Earnshaw with Golden Globe-nominee Jacob Elordi as the brooding Heathcliff. 

The plot of Bronte’s classic follows Catherine and her adopted brother Heathcliff. The two fall in love but because of class, they cannot be together. Catherine is set to marry wealthy suitor Edgar, and Heathcliff, feeling rejected, runs away. Their passion sets forth several other tragedies within the family and even affects future generations. 

Fennell is known for writing and directing dark comedy-thriller “Saltburn,” also starring Elordi, her directorial debut “Promising Young Woman,” and for being a showrunner for the award-winning action series “Killing Eve.” 

It will be her first foray into directing a period film, but Fennell, who is also an actress, has appeared in quite a few of them. She has starred in historical drama films “Albert Nobbs,” “Anna Karenina” and “The Danish Girl,” as well as on TV series “Call the Midwife” and “The Crown.”  

The director is adding a modern touch with a soundtrack by Charli XCX. 

It is evident that viewers can’t get enough of tortured and toxic romances, from “Tell Me Lies” and the many adaptations of “Dangerous Liaisons” to “Normal People,” “The Affair” and “A Star Is Born.”

“Wuthering Heights” may have been written in 1847, but its brand of obsession remains timeless.

About the writer

S. Lynn Bonanno is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. She mentions “Dangerous Liaisons” in this article and would like to formally acknowledge that she has been obsessed with the story since the 1988 film starring the iconic Glenn Close, the devastatingly perfect John Malkovich (no one else can play Valmont quite like him – do not argue with her) and the luminous Michelle Pfeiffer. Her second favorite adaptation is 1999’s “Cruel Intentions.” She considers 1989’s “Valmont” perfectly fine, but emotionally unnecessary.