EXCLUSIVE: A significant victory for the cinematic realm! After an intense and fiercely competitive bidding frenzy, Warner Bros Motion Pictures Group has triumphantly claimed MRC’s much-anticipated film adaptation of the literary classic, Wuthering Heights. This endeavor, helmed by the Oscar-winning talent Emerald Fennell, will feature renowned stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The production, orchestrated by LuckyChap, sees Fennell not only directing but also penning the script, all while taking inspiration from Emily Brontë’s timeless novel.
The heat surrounding this project was palpable, with whispers that it might find a home with streaming giants like Netflix or Amazon. After all, Fennell’s previous film, Saltburn, captivated audiences and shattered streaming records. Many bids swirled in dizzying circles, yet Fennell and Robbie ardently pursued a theatrical release that would involve substantial print and advertising expenditures. Netflix, despite offering a staggering commitment speculated around $150 million, clarified its distaste for expansive theatrical releases. Meanwhile, Warner Bros managed to seal the deal for approximately half that amount, exhibiting their dedication to ensuring that Wuthering Heights graces theaters worldwide, complete with an appropriate promotional budget and profit-sharing linked to box office performance.
Following the acclaim of Saltburn, this adaptation of Wuthering Heights marks a notable second collaboration among MRC, LuckyChap, and Fennell, and a third partnership between LuckyChap and Fennell.
On confirming the deal, Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group’s Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy expressed their enthusiasm: “We are delighted to partner with MRC, Emerald Fennell, and LuckyChap for this remarkable film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. From our initial introduction to Emerald’s unique vision, coupled with a stellar cast led by Margot and Jacob, we were inspired to forge a partnership to ensure this film reaches audiences around the globe.”
MRC film executives Brye Adler and Jonathan Golfman echoed this sentiment, stating, “From our first discussions with Emerald about Wuthering Heights, we were captivated by her vision, which beautifully embodies the longing and turmoil of the source material while infusing it with her personal artistic sensibility. Partnering with Warner Bros and our friends at LuckyChap is a thrilling endeavor, offering Emerald’s film to viewers far and wide.”
Buzz surrounding this adaptation has been simmering ever since Fennell revealed last summer that Wuthering Heights would be her next venture with MRC. The novel, published under Brontë’s pseudonym Ellis Bell shortly before her untimely demise, pathos-framed explores the Yorkshire moors’ tempestuous relationships—focusing on the Earnshaws and the Lintons. The narrative unfolds through Mr. Lockwood, a tenant at Thrushcross Grange, who uncovers Wuthering Heights’ harrowing history through Nelly Dean, a devoted servant. At its heart lies the impassioned yet tragic romance between Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Mr. Earnshaw, and Catherine, the daughter of Mr. Earnshaw.
Emerging as a formidable voice in cinema, Fennell garnered the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for her provocative debut, Promising Young Woman, starring Carey Mulligan. She followed up with the thought-provoking Saltburn, collaborating with Elordi as the Euphoria star transitions onto the silver screen.
Fennell expressed her excitement: “I’m absolutely thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at Warner Bros and to once again partner with the extraordinary MRC and LuckyChap.”
This strategic alliance aligns perfectly with the existing multiyear first-look feature deal between Robbie, LuckyChap’s principals Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara at Warner Bros, particularly after the phenomenal success of the Academy Award-nominated blockbuster Barbie.
As for MRC, they arrive fresh off notable works like American Fiction, Fair Play, and Blink.
Fennell is expertly represented by UTA, Entertainment 360, United Agents, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, while Robbie is backed by Entertainment 360, CAA, Aran Michael Management, and attorney Jeff Bernstein. Elordi’s representation includes Gersh and Goodman Genow.
