'Wuthering Heights' Casting Director Defends Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi Controversy: "It's Just A Book"
Wuthering Heights, a movie directed by Emerald Fennell and inspired by Brontë's iconic novel, is set to debut in early 2026. However, many have taken issue with the leading roles being given to Margot Robbie, best known for her performances in Barbie and The Wolf of Wall Street, and the Priscilla star Jacob Elordi.
Brontë's Wuthering Heights takes place in the late 18th century in remote Yorkshire and centers on the relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, who is an orphan. In the book, Heathcliff is also portrayed as having dark skin, hair, and eyes, which is why readers suspected he was of Roman or "Gypsy" descent. This would help explain the prejudice that Heathcliff faces throughout the story.
So, critics have suggested that Jacob Elordi wasn't the right choice to depict Heathcliff, given his ethnicity. Moreover, he and Margot Robbie, who are 27 and 34 years old, respectively, have both come under fire due to their ages, since the main characters are in their early twenties for most of the book.
Casting director Kharmel Cochrane responded to the backlash at the Sands film festival in Scotland, claiming there was "no need to be accurate" since the material inspiring Emerald Fennell's newest film adaptation is "just a book," according to Deadline.
This statement seemingly struck a nerve with numerous literary lovers, as a recent Reddit thread regarding Kharmel's response sparked a lot of outrage and called into question the respect Brontë's novel was being afforded.
"It sounds like she [Kharmel] has lots of respect for the material and isn't just doing it for money," sarcastically commented one Redditor.
"What was the point of adapting it if they weren't gonna actually adapt it accurately?" asked another, "They'll probably change entire plot points to make it unrecognizable."
"The casting decision is one thing, but that dismissive attitude makes me angry. I won't be watching, considering it's 'just a film,'" added a third.
Now, Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights isn't the first to ignore character traits laid out by Brontë in the original book. In fact, Heathcliff has previously been played by actors such as Ralph Fiennes, Tom Hardy, and Timothy Dalton.
Still, the rest of Kharmel's remarks from the Sands film festival have left a sour taste in many people's mouths.
"There was one Instagram comment that said the casting director should be shot. But just wait until 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," she stated.
"There's definitely going to be some English Lit fans that are not going to be happy. 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."
According to , the film will be released on February 13, 2026. How well it's received by audiences in the wake of such casting controversy remains to be seen.
Looking for more , , and news? Follow us on so you never miss a thing!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ozzy Osbourne, legendary heavy metal singer and Black Sabbath frontman, dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne , the legendary English singer known as 'The Prince of Darkness,' has died after years of poor health, his family announced Tuesday. He was 76. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' read a statement signed by the singer's wife, Sharon, and children, Aimee, Kelly, Jack and Louis. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' No cause of death was provided, though Osbourne suffered from Parkinson's disease. The news of the singer's passing comes just 17 days after some 42,000 fans came together to bid farewell to Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates in a massive, star-studded tribute concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England. It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and… Osbourne rose to prominence in the 1970s as the frontman of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He went on to release more than a dozen albums as a solo artist. In the late 1970s, after rejoining Black Sabbath, Osbourne and the band spent five months in Toronto at Sounds Interchange Studios, where they wrote and recorded their 1978 album, 'Never Say Die!' Osbourne was twice inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — once with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo artist. Over the course of his career, he sold more than 100 million records. Later in life, Osbourne gained new prominence as a reality television star, appearing alongside his wife and children on the popular MTV series 'The Osbournes.' In 2020, following years of escalating health concerns, Osbourne announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2023, he announced that he was retiring from touring, citing spinal injuries he sustained during an 2018 accident. Ozzy Osbourne, the frontman of the pioneering band Black Sabbath --who became the throaty, growling voice of heavy metal, died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. (July 22, 2025) Dubbed the 'Back to the Beginning' concert, the July 5 tribute featured performances from a long list of heavy metal royalty, including Metallica , Anthrax, Tool, Tom Morello, Slayer and Pantera. 'Let the madness begin!' Osbourne cried after finally taking the stage to perform several songs from his solo catalogue while seated on a black throne. 'I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel — thank you from the bottom of my heart,' said Osbourne. Just 17 days ago, Ozzy Osbourne took the stage for the final time, reuniting with Black Sabbath for a farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham. Credit: Universal Music Group Later, he was joined onstage, for the first time in 20 years, by his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a short set with 'Paranoid,' one of their biggest hits. Ozzy Osbourne Announces 'No More Tours 2' Final World Tour at Press Conference at his Los Angeles Home on February 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Osbourne's death was met with an outpouring of tributes on social media from fans and fellow musicians. Ozzy Osbourne a 'dear friend and a huge trailblazer' says Elton John as friends, fans share memories and condolences 'So sad to hear the news of (Osbourne) passing away,' wrote Sir Elton John on Instagram. 'He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods — a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly.' A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) Pioneering thrash metal band Metallica shared a photo alongside Osbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a simple broken heart emoji. 💔 Jack White, the singer-songwriter and former White Stripes frontman, posted on Instagram, with the caption: 'He made it.' A post shared by Jack White (@officialjackwhite) Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello also shared a photo on Instagram. A post shared by Tom Morello (@tommorello) Black Sabbath's 1969 self-titled debut LP has been likened to the Big Bang of heavy metal. It arrived during the height of the Vietnam War and crashed the hippie party, dripping with menace. The cover of the record shows a spooky, witch-like figure against a foreboding, swampy landscape. The music was loud, dense and angry, and marked a shift in rock 'n' roll. The band's second album, 'Paranoid,' included such classic metal tunes as 'War Pigs,' 'Iron Man' and 'Fairies Wear Boots.' The song 'Paranoid' only reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 but became, in many ways, the band's signature song. Both albums were voted among the top 10 greatest heavy metal albums of all time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. Sabbath later fired Osbourne in 1979 for his legendary excesses, including showing up late for rehearsals and missing gigs. Ozzy Osbourne performs with Black Sabbath at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 2013. 'We knew we didn't really have a choice but to sack him because he was just so out of control. But we were all very down about the situation,' wrote bassist Terry 'Geezer' Butler in his memoir, 'Into the Void.' Osbourne re-emerged the next year as a solo artist with 'Blizzard of Ozz' and the following year's 'Diary of a Madman,' both hard rock classics that went multi-platinum and spawned enduring favorites such as 'Crazy Train,' 'Goodbye to Romance,' 'Flying High Again' and 'You Can't Kill Rock and Roll.' With files from the Associated Press.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Ozzy Osbourne health issues: The heavy metal icon battled Parkinson's disease, addiction
Ozzy Osbourne may have been a fierce rock 'n' roller, but he was far from invincible. The Grammy-winning singer and Black Sabbath frontman died on Tuesday, July 22, at the age of 76, according to a family statement shared with USA TODAY. Osbourne's death came just weeks after he reunited with Black Sabbath for the heavy metal band's final show in Birmingham, England. Taking the stage at Villa Park in front of 40,000 fans, the July 5 concert was a reprieve from the English singer's harrowing battle with Parkinson's disease, which had rendered him unable to stand or walk without assistance. But for nine songs that included Black Sabbath classics "Paranoid" and "Iron Man," as well as Osbourne standards "Mr. Crowley" and "Crazy Train," the guitars cranked, and the Prince of Darkness reveled in his return to the spotlight. Aside from his struggles with Parkinson's disease, Osbourne also dealt with substance abuse. The outlandish rocker, who later embarked on a solo career, was booted from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to his rampant drug and alcohol addiction. Ozzy Osbourne on 'self-medicating' with yearslong substance abuse Osbourne's battles with addiction have led to infamous moments in music history. He bit the head off a dove during a 1981 meeting with record executives in Los Angeles and the following year chomped the head off a live bat during a show in Des Moines, Iowa. The singer got candid on his tumultuous relationship with addiction in a February 2021 interview with Variety. "I've always been self-medicating because I've never liked the way I felt," Osbourne told the outlet. "I've had great success in my life, but I've never felt great about myself. And so, from a very early age, I used to sniff fumes, all kinds of things, anything to get me out of my head." Osbourne later got serious about his sobriety around 2014 after numerous attempts at recovery dating back to 1984. "I thought I'd be drinking to the day I die," he reflected. "Most of the people that I drank with are dead. And the ones that aren't, that still continue to drink, are going to be dead soon," Osbourne added. "It's not a happy ending. If you want to carry on drinking, my hat goes off to you." Ozzy Osbourne undergoes neck surgery after 2019 fall In April 2019, a representative for Osbourne revealed on social media that he was postponing all tour dates on his farewell No More Tours II concert tour after the singer sustained injuries during a fall at his Los Angeles home. In a January 2020 interview with "Good Morning America," Osbourne detailed the "terribly challenging" year he went through due to his extensive recovery. "I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves in," Osbourne said at the time. "I've got numbness down this arm from the surgery. My legs feel going cold. I don't know if that's Parkinson's or what. … It's a weird feeling." Ozzy Osbourne breaks silence on Parkinson's disease diagnosis In a revealing sit-down interview with "Good Morning America" in January 2020, Osbourne, alongside wife Sharon Osbourne, shared that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a degenerative syndrome that results in the slow loss of brain circuitry involved in movement, thinking, and behavior. It can cause tremors, stiffness, slowness, and falls, in addition to anxiety, depression, and sleep dysfunction. Though fans knew the singer had suffered from tremors, Osbourne said he didn't find out about his diagnosis until 2019. "I'm not good at secrets. I cannot walk around with it anymore," Osbourne said on the ABC talk show. "I feel better now of owning up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson's." A month after his "GMA" interview, Osbourne canceled the North American leg of his No More Tours II tour to focus on his recovery, as the singer prepared to travel to Switzerland for treatment. Ozzy Osbourne reveals emphysema battle amid 'worst year of my life' In a November 2020 interview with GQ, Osbourne revealed he had emphysema, a chronic lung condition — often attributed to smoking — that causes shortness of breath, according to Mayo Clinic. "This year has been the worst year of my life!" said Osbourne, who'd revealed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in January. The singer also voiced his health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic: "I've got emphysema, so if I get this virus, I'm f-----." Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, Sara M Moniuszko, Karen Weintraub, and Charles Trepany, USA TODAY If you or someone you know needs help battling a substance abuse addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Netflix Lifted Guidance. Is the Stock a Buy Following Its Drop?
Key Points Netflix turned in strong results and upbeat guidance. However, the stock fell as expectations were high going into the recent report. The Netflix story remains unchanged, but the stock's valuation has gotten pricey. 10 stocks we like better than Netflix › Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) once again delivered strong revenue and earnings growth when it reported its Q2 results on July 17, but the stock nonetheless fell on the news. The video streaming company has been a strong performer this year, with the stock up 38% year to date as of market close July 21 despite the pullback. As such, expectations were high going into the report. A huge market winner over the years, let's see if this pullback could be a buying opportunity, especially after the company raised its guidance. Solid growth and upbeat outlook Netflix said the key to its success is offering a wide array of quality series and films that resonate with its viewers. It noted that a hit show or film typically only accounts for about 1% of total viewing, so it looks for a continuous stream of quality content across regions and genres to keep viewers and bring in new ones. As an international company, Netflix is also using a "local for local" content strategy to appeal and connect with audiences in their home countries. It said non-English content now makes up more than one-third of its viewing hours. Meanwhile, these shows can also become hits with American audiences, such as Squid Game from Korea, or Japan's Alice in Borderland. Netflix's investment in local content has been helping drive its results, as international revenue growth has been outpacing U.S. and Canadian growth. This continued in Q2. Asia-Pacific growth led the way, with revenue climbing 24% to $1.3 billion, while EMEA (Europe, Middle East, & Africa) revenue jumped 18% to $3.5 billion. Latin American revenue rose 9% to $1.3 billion, but was up 23% in local currencies. U.S. and Canada revenue, meanwhile, grew 15% to $4.9 billion. Netflix's overall revenue rose 16% to $11.08 billion, which was just ahead of the $11.07 billion analyst consensus, as compiled by LSEG. Earnings per share (EPS) soared 47% to $7.19, surpassing the $7.08 analyst consensus. Most of Netflix's revenue growth currently appears to be coming from price increases and membership additions. However, growing its ad business is a priority. Its ad revenue is expected to double this year, and it recently rolled out its new adtech platform to all of its ad markets. The company also continues to expand its live programming, including boxing matches and two scheduled NFL games on Christmas. It also has weekly live programming through its broadcast of WWE's Monday Night Raw. Looking ahead, Netflix guided for Q3 revenue to climb 17% with a 31% operating margin. It said its second-half operating margin will be lower than the first half due to higher content amortization and sales and marketing costs related to its larger second-half content slate. For the full year, it raised it revenue guidance, taking it to a range of $44.8 billion to $45.2 billion, up from a prior outlook of between $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion. It also increased its operating margin outlook from 29% to 30%. Currency rates are responsible for about half the operating margin increase. Should investors buy the pullback? Netflix stock had a strong year leading up to earnings, so expectations were high. The company turned in solid results and boosted its outlook, although that was not enough for investors to continue to push the stock higher. The stock is down about 1.6% after the report. That said, nothing has fundamentally changed with Netflix's story. The company is still benefiting from price increases, while its membership numbers continue to grow, especially in international markets. Meanwhile, advertising should become the company's largest growth driver over time when its ad-tiered plans and live content gain more scale. However, with the stock trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 47 times analyst estimates for 2025, even after the pullback, I would not be a buyer at current levels. I think the stock has solid potential over the long term, but I'd still want a cheaper valuation before I hop on board. Do the experts think Netflix is a buy right now? The Motley Fool's expert analyst team, drawing on years of investing experience and deep analysis of thousands of stocks, leverages our proprietary Moneyball AI investing database to uncover top opportunities. They've just revealed their to buy now — did Netflix make the list? When our Stock Advisor analyst team has a stock recommendation, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is up 1,055% vs. just 180% for the S&P — that is beating the market by 874.27%!* Imagine if you were a Stock Advisor member when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $665,092!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,050,477!* The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Netflix Lifted Guidance. Is the Stock a Buy Following Its Drop? was originally published by The Motley Fool
