Kharmel Cochrane, the casting director for Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights, spoke about reactions to the casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi during a session at the Sands Film Festival in St Andrews, Scotland. Robbie plays Catherine Earnshaw, and Elordi portrays Heathcliff in the upcoming film.
“There’s definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy,” Cochrane said. “There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot. But just wait till you see it, and then you can decide whether you want to shoot me or not. But you really don’t need to be accurate. It’s just a book. That is not based on real life. It’s all art.”
The film has drawn attention for creative choices, including a wedding gown seen in promotional material that departs from historical accuracy. Cochrane noted that set designs and costumes could surprise viewers further, referencing a possible dog collar detail.
Cochrane addressed casting questions related to the depiction of Heathcliff, a character described by Emily Brontë as having a dark appearance. She explained her approach to casting by describing how she interprets written material when considering actor selection. “If something is clearly written as white, for example, a script reads ‘she tied her blonde hair back,’ but there’s no specific reason for it, I will just put people on tape,” she said. “And then it’s almost like I dare someone to question why I’ve done it, and they don’t.”
The cast includes Hong Chau as Nelly Dean, Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton, and Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, alongside younger versions of the characters. Warner Bros. plans to release the film on February 13, 2026.
