‘Wuthering Heights’ casting director defends Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi: “It’s all art”
The casting director for the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights has defended Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi assuming the lead roles, arguing that the film doesn’t have to be “accurate” and “it’s all art.”
Kharmel Cochrane appeared at the Sands Film Festival in St Andrews, Scotland, on April 26th and stated, according to Deadline, “There’s definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy”.
She added, “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,” before appealing: “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.”
Cochrane also joked: “Wait until you see the set design, because that is even more shocking. And there may or may not be a dog collar in it.”
The movie adaptation from director Emerald Fennell has attracted controversy for not casting actors who more closely resembled the characters of the classic 1847 novel by Emily Brontë.
In response, Cochrane explained: “Years ago, I would get people saying, ‘Did you read the brief?’ And I’d say ‘Yeah, and this is my interpretation of it,’ just like when you can read a book.”
The film will mark Robbie’s third production collaboration with Fennel following Saltburn and Promising Young Woman. Cast from the former 2023 smash hit, including Elordi and Alison Oliver, will also feature in Wuthering Heights, alongside Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, and Adolescence breakout star Owen Cooper.
Wuthering Heights is slated for release by Warner Bros Pictures on February 13th, 2026.
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