Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, Wuthering Heightsis getting an amazing new screen adaptation. Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the film re-immerses viewers in the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw (Robbie) and Heathcliff (Elordi), set against the backdrop of England’s gothic wilderness.

But bringing the book to the screen for modern audiences was a unique process in itself, stars Alison Oliver and Hong Chau explained to PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere on January 28.

Oliver, 28, who plays Isabella Linton, explained that although she was familiar with the original novel, she was drawn to Fennell’s take on the novel.

“It’s such a thick and complex book that I think anyone who wants to turn it into a movie needs to zoom in and focus on the parts they want to examine,” said Oliver, who made her feature film debut in Fennell’s 2023 film. salt burnI explained. “I think Emerald has a very specific vision and perspective…I’ve known her for a while and I thought, ‘Oh, this is so great, how she decides to do this.'” I just love what she did. ”

Chow, who plays Nelly Dean, said she never imagined she would be working on a “period drama based on a cherished classic British novel” and that she had intentionally not read Brontë’s books.

“I want to step back a little bit from the movie and this whole experience and be able to experience the book itself,” the 46-year-old actress said.

Fennell, 40, spoke about her vision for the film: BBC News In September 2025, she said she would like the book to be adapted in a way that “makes me feel the same way I did when I first read it.” However, the director also takes a modern approach, as seen in the film’s soundtrack by Charlie XCX.

“It was very interesting to have Emerald give us directions on set. She explained things in a very modern way and it was very casual,” Chow said. “And then we have to try to internalize that and give a more formal version and have all of that underlying motivation. That was the really difficult part of not making it feel too modern, because for us there are so many other things going on to make that work.”

Wuthering Heights Catherine and Heathcliff first meet as children when the Earnshaw family takes the orphaned Heathcliff into their home. Over the years, their relationship spirals into darkness and obsession.

Elordi, 28, previously spoke in an interview about the connection he and Robbie felt to the character. fandango It was released on January 14th.

“There was a moment where we were running through the moor hand in hand, probably not that scene, just getting ready. And then I looked at her, she looked at me, and you realized that you were really looking at Catherine and she was looking at Heathcliff.” frankenstein Starr said. “And in that moment, we were truly a part of their love.”

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“You can almost imagine this spirit of love that Bronte created floating around,” Elordi added. “It really felt like I was holding onto a piece of unrequited love.”

Wuthering Heights It will be released in theaters for the first time on February 13th.