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EXCLUSIVE Revealed: First look at Jacob Elordi's controversial Heathcliff in new Wuthering Heights adaptation - while Margot Robbie, 34, dons black as teenage heroine Cathy By MOLLY CLAYTON FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 00:25, 13 April 2025 | Updated: 00:31, 13 April 2025 e-mail View comments In Emily Bronte's classic novel, the brooding central character of Heathcliff is described as a 'dark-skinned gypsy' with 'black eyes'. Yet these exclusive pictures reveal Australian actor Jacob Elordi in the role for the first time in the new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights – and it appears to have reimagined him in a rather different light. There has already been controversy over the casting of 27-year-old heartthrob Elordi, known for his role in the darkly comic Saltburn , because critics claim he is not 'racially ambiguous' enough.
One of literature's greatest male characters, Heathcliff is later described in the novel as 'a little Lascar', a 19th century term for an Indian sailor. But these pictures, which show Elordi on set alongside his co-star, Barbie's Margot Robbie , certainly appear to show him looking more rugged and swarthy than usual. Dressed in a long black coat, gold-buttoned waistcoat and with longer hair and sideburns, the actor also revealed a hooped earring for the highly-anticipated £62million production.
When he smiled, he flashed a gold tooth. Exclusive Mail on Sunday pictures reveal Australian actor Jacob Elordi (pictured) in the role for the first time in the new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights There has already been controversy over the casting of 27-year-old heartthrob Elordi, known for his role in the darkly comic Saltburn , because critics claim he is not 'racially ambiguous' enough Robbie, 36, who plays Catherine Earnshaw, or Cathy, was dressed in a voluminous black gown with black veil during filming on Tuesday for what appeared to be a funeral scene The star-studded line-up has led some to suggest that director Emerald Fennell relied on blind casting to choose actors for the roles Robbie returned to work on the project after giving birth to her first child with her British husband Tom Ackerley last year, and the couple's production company, LuckyChap, is producing the film Owen Cooper, the young British actor who has made waves for his debut performance in Netflix's Adolescence, is to play the teenage Heathcliff Robbie and her company have a long history of working with Emerald Fennell, and produced both of her previous films, Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, which bagged an Oscar nomination for its star, Carey Mulligan Robbie, 36, who plays Catherine Earnshaw, or Cathy, was dressed in a voluminous black gown with black veil during filming on Tuesday for what appeared to be a funeral scene. She clutched a hot water bottle in between takes on the moorland set.
The star-studded line-up has led some to suggest that director Emerald Fennell relied on blind casting to choose actors for the roles. The character of Edgar Linton, a wealthy aristocrat who falls in love with and marries Cathy, is played by 36-year-old British Pakistani actor Shazad Latif, while Oscar-nominated actress Hong Chau, 45, an American born in Thailand, is set to appear as housekeeper Nelly Dean. Many fans have criticised the decision to use actors who 'look like they belong on Instagram' rather than on a bleak Yorkshire moorland during the 1800s.
The Mail on Sunday revealed the first images of Robbie as Cathy two weeks ago after the production began filming in January. The star returned to work on the project after giving birth to her first child with her British husband Tom Ackerley last year, and the couple's production company, LuckyChap, is producing the film. Robbie and her company have a long history of working with Emerald Fennell, and produced both of her previous films, Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, which bagged an Oscar nomination for its star, Carey Mulligan .
Many fans have criticised the decision to use actors who 'look like they belong on Instagram' rather than on a bleak Yorkshire moorland during the 1800s. The Mail on Sunday revealed the first images of Robbie as Cathy two weeks ago after the production began filming in January Dressed in a long black coat, gold-buttoned waistcoat and with longer hair and sideburns, the actor also revealed a hooped earring for the highly-anticipated £62million production The character of Edgar Linton, a wealthy aristocrat who falls in love with and marries Cathy, is played by 36-year-old British Pakistani actor Shazad Latif, while Oscar-nominated actress Hong Chau, 45, an American born in Thailand, is set to appear as housekeeper Nelly Dean Robbie and Elordi have also worked together before - on Saltburn, and also to appear in a new short film, See You at 5, for the new Chanel No.5 campaign The tortured Heathcliff is one of literature's most complex anti-heroes, and has previously been played in other screen adaptations by Tom Hardy, Ralph Fiennes, and Sir Lawrence Olivier The original story of Wuthering Heights centres around the upper middle-class Earnshaw family and their turbulent relationship with Heathcliff, an orphaned boy they take in Read More Margot Robbie is roasted after she is seen on the set of Wuthering Heights adaptation Meanwhile, Robbie and Elordi have also worked together before - on Saltburn, and also to appear in a new short film, See You at 5, for the new Chanel No.
5 campaign. She recently gushed about him in an interview with Harper's Bazaar, calling him 'wonderful'. 'So I haven't shared the screen with him before, but I know I've seen him on set, I've been around him on set, and he's just - he's got an incredible presence,' she said.
Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, is considered a masterpiece. The original story centres around the upper middle-class Earnshaw family and their turbulent relationship with Heathcliff, an orphaned boy they take in. The tortured Heathcliff is one of literature's most complex anti-heroes, and has previously been played in other screen adaptations by Tom Hardy, Ralph Fiennes, and Sir Lawrence Olivier.
Owen Cooper, the young British actor who has made waves for his debut performance in Netflix's Adolescence , is to play the teenage Heathcliff. Margot Robbie Saltburn Jacob Elordi Share or comment on this article: Revealed: First look at Jacob Elordi's controversial Heathcliff in new Wuthering Heights adaptation - while Margot Robbie, 34, dons black as teenage heroine Cathy e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
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