See the New“ Wuthering Heights” Cast Side-by-Side with the Original 1939 Stars
- - See the New“ Wuthering Heights” Cast Side-by-Side with the Original 1939 Stars
Samantha Stutsman, Nicole PomaricoFebruary 14, 2026 at 7:15 AM
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Laurence Olivier in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939) ; Jacob Elordi in 'Wuthering Heights' (2026).
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Warner Bros.
The first film adaptation of Wuthering Heights premiered in 1939, starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon
The newest adaptation of Emily Brontë's Gothic novel premieres on Feb. 13
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi will play Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff in the new movie
The newest adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi arrives in theaters on Feb. 13, but it's not the first time the novel has been adapted for the screen.
Emily Brontë’s 1847 Gothic masterpiece follows the doomed romance between Heathcliff (Elordi), an orphan taken in by the Earnshaw family, and Catherine Earnshaw (Robbie), whose love is tested by social expectations, jealousy and betrayal. Heathcliff’s obsession drives a cycle of revenge that affects everyone at Wuthering Heights and the neighboring Thrushcross Grange for generations to come.
Director Emerald Fennell's adaptation joins a long line of screen interpretations of Brontë’s novel. The 1939 classic starred Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon as the doomed lovers, while Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche brought the intense romance of Heathcliff and Catherine to life in 1992.
On television, Wuthering Heights inspired two series, one in 1978 and one in 1998, as well as the 2009 TV movie starring Tom Hardy and his now-wife, Charlotte Riley. Robbie and Elordi's depiction of the star-crossed lovers will premiere ahead of Valentine's Day on Feb. 13.
Here, take a look at how the new Wuthering Heights cast compares to the 1939 stars.
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Heathcliff: Laurence Olivier and Jacob Elordi
Laurence Olivier in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939) ; Jacob Elordi in 'Wuthering Heights' (2026).
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Warner Bros.
Elordi takes on the obsessive, passionate Heathcliff, following in Olivier’s footsteps, who earned an Oscar nomination for the role in 1940.
However, Elordi's casting sparked debate. Some fans felt his Whiteness strayed from Brontë’s description of Heathcliff as “dark-skinned,” while others questioned the choice for Elordi to wear mutton chops and have a gold tooth.
Elordi acknowledged the chatter in a September 2025 interview with The Wall Street Journal, assuring fans that Fennell's version will move them.
“I think what she’s done is really perfect and super beautiful,” he said. “It’s electric. And it’s also like nails on a chalkboard. It does something. It moves you in some kind of way, good or bad."
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Catherine Earnshaw: Merle Oberon and Margot Robbie
Merle Oberon in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939) ; Margot Robbie in 'Wuthering Heights' (2026).
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Warner Bros.
Robbie will take on the role of Catherine, the center of Wuthering Heights' love triangle. The part was previously played by Golden Age leading lady Oberon.
"It's so epic in nature, so incredibly romantic, and it really is this stunning world that makes you just want to be there. You're thoroughly transported," Robbie told Entertainment Weekly in September 2025 of the project.
Fennell later told the BBC that viewers will "lose their minds" over the Barbie star's performance.
"It needed somebody like Margot, who's a star, not just an incredible actress — which she is — but somebody who has a power, an otherworldly power, a Godlike power," the director continued.
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Edgar Linton: David Niven and Shazad Latif
David Niven in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939); Shazad Latif in 'Wuthering Heights' (2026).
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Warner Bros.
David Niven played the polite and sensitive Edgar Linton, Catherine’s husband, in Wuthering Heights (1939). Now, it's Shazad Latif's turn.
"It's like something you've probably never seen before. It looks stunning," the actor, who is best known for his role in Star Trek: Discovery, teased in an interview with Metro Entertainment in August 2025.
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Isabella Linton: Geraldine Fitzgerald and Alison Oliver
Geraldine Fitzgerald in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939); Alison Oliver during Paris Fashion Week in 2025.
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Francois Durand/Getty
In the 1939 adaptation, Geraldine Fitzgerald portrayed Edgar’s younger sister, Isabella Linton, whose infatuation with Heathcliff spirals into a dangerous obsession. Now, Alison Oliver will take over the role, and she has big shoes to fill, considering Fitzgerald earned an Oscar nomination for her performance.
Wuthering Heights marks a reunion for Oliver and Elordi, who played siblings in Fennell's Saltburn.
"It was such a gift and an honor to work with [Fennell] again. She’s an absolute genius, and I just can’t wait for people to see [the movie]," the actress told Elle in October 2025.
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Nelly Dean: Flora Robson and Hong Chau
Flora Robson in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939); Hong Chau attends 'The Instigators' premiere in 2024.
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Michael Loccisano/Getty
Before Hong Chau, Flora Robson played Nelly Dean, the steadfast and meddling housekeeper and primary narrator in Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.
Chau is best known for her roles in The Menu and The Whale, for which she earned an Oscar nomination.
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Mr. Earnshaw: Cecil Kellaway and Martin Clunes
Cecil Kellaway in 'Wuthering Heights' (1939); Martin Clunes attends the 2024 TV Choice Awards.
Courtesy of Everett Collection ; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Cecil Kellaway brought Mr. Earnshaw to life in the 1939 film as the patriarch of the family.
In Fennell's version, Martin Clunes will take on the role of Catherine’s compassionate and loving father, whose kindness and favoritism toward Heathcliff help set the stage for the intense family dynamics that follow.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
