Ashhar Alam / New Delhi

Actor and producer Margot Robbie has revealed that she was not originally locked in to play Catherine Earnshaw in the upcoming Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell, according to People.

Speaking on The Graham Norton Show alongside co-star Jacob Elordi, Robbie, 35, opened up about how her casting eventually came together ahead of the film’s release on February 13. She shared that while she was initially involved as a producer, stepping into the lead role came later in the process.

“I wasn’t always going to be in it,” Robbie said. “I was thrilled to be producing, but when conversations turned to Cathy, I decided to put my name forward,” she explained, referring to the iconic character of Catherine Earnshaw. Robbie added that working with Fennell had long been a personal ambition. “I’ve always wanted to be one of Emerald’s actors, and thankfully, she felt the same. It all worked out beautifully.”

Fennell’s 2026 reimagining of Emily Brontë’s 1847 gothic classic is expected to take a more interpretive approach rather than a strict retelling. Known for films like Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, Fennell has focused on capturing the emotional impact the novel had on her as a teenager.

Actor and producer Margot Robbie

“She really loves the book,” Robbie said, noting that the director channels the feelings she experienced when she first read it at 14. “It’s more about that raw emotion than a traditional adaptation.”

In the film, Jacob Elordi, 28, plays Heathcliff, an orphan who forms an intense and destructive bond with Catherine after being taken in by a wealthy family. The story delves into themes of obsessive love, social class and the lasting consequences of passion across generations.

Elordi also recalled being surprised by his casting. “I was travelling when Emerald texted me asking if I wanted to play Heathcliff. I replied, ‘Yeah,’” he said with a laugh.

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The film features an ensemble cast including Hong Chau, Alison Oliver, Shazad Latif, Martin Clunes and Ewan Mitchell. Charlotte Mellington and Adolescence actor Owen Cooper portray the younger versions of Catherine and Heathcliff.

Wuthering Heights is slated for release on Friday, February 13, just ahead of Valentine’s Day.