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Emerald Fennell Explains Why She Cast Jacob Elordi And Margot Robbie In Wuthering Heights Amid Backlash

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Emerald Fennell has explained how she came to cast Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the leads in her new Wuthering Heights movie.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker has faced some criticism in the last year over the actors she chose to portray Catherine and Heathcliff in her much-hyped film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic gothic novel.

Many have questioned whether Margot, who turned 35 earlier this year, was the right choice for Catherine, given the character is in her late teens for much of the main story, while others have accused the film of “whitewashing” the character of Heathcliff, who is described in the book as being “dark-skinned”.

While his ethnicity is never specified in the source material, it’s been pointed out by fans that Heathcliff is subjected to racism by other characters in the book, particularly as a younger man, so the Euphoria actor’s casting in the role has been a controversial one.

Per BBC News, Emerald opened up about her reasons for casting Margot and Jacob while speaking at the Brontë family home over the weekend.

Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi

via Associated Press

Emerald explained that the idea for Jacob to play Heathcliff occurred to her when they were working together on her most recent film, Saltburn.

“He looked exactly like the illustration of Heathcliff on the first book that I read,” Emerald recalled. “And it was so awful because I so wanted to scream. Not the professional thing to do, obviously.

“I had been thinking about making [a film version of Wuthering Heights], and it seemed to me he had the thing… he’s a very surprising actor.”

As for Margot, Emerald noted that she’s “not like anyone I’ve ever met – ever”, which is the same way she felt about the character when she first read Wuthering Heights.

“[Margot is] so beautiful and interesting and surprising, and she is the type of person who, like Cathy, could get away with anything,” the Promising Young Woman director said. “I think honestly she could commit a killing spree and nobody would mind. And that is who Cathy is to me. Cathy is somebody who just pushes to see how far she can go.

“So 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, that means people lose their minds.”

Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie

via Associated Press

While Emerald and Jacob first worked together on Saltburn, she and Margot have also collaborated numerous times.

Margot was an executive producer on both Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, while Emerald made a brief appearance in the 2023 movie Barbie as Midge, a friend of Margot’s doll character.

Preview screenings of Wuthering Heights were reported to have first taken place earlier this year – with audiences having a big reaction to some of the artistic choices Emerald has made with her latest film.

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Jessica Chastain Speaks Out Against Apple For Delaying Release Of Her New Show After Charlie Kirk’s Death

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Jessica Chastain has voiced her upset at Apple’s decision to delay the release of her new show in light of the killing of Charlie Kirk.

The Oscar winner takes the lead in the new Apple TV+ miniseries The Savant, in which she depicts a woman who infiltrates radical online groups in order to prevent them from violent public attacks.

Just three weeks before its scheduled premiere, Apple announced earlier this week that it had made the decision to postpone releasing the show “after careful consideration”.

While no official explanation was given, many news outlets pointed out the delay came shortly after the fatal shooting of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk in the US earlier this month.

Responding to this decision on Instagram, Jessica – who is an executive producer on The Savant, as well as its star – told her followers: “I want to say how much I value my partnership with Apple. They’ve been incredible collaborators and I deeply respect their team.

“That said, I wanted to reach out and let you know that we’re not aligned on the decision to pause the release of The Savant.”

Jessica Chastain in Apple TV+'s The Savant
Jessica Chastain in Apple TV+’s The Savant

Jessica went on to point out that in the five years the show has been in production there’s been “an unfortunate amount of violence in the United States”, listing examples such as the insurrection at the Capitol in January 2021, the assassination attempt on Donald Trump last year, the killing of Charlie Kirk and “over 300 school shootings across this country”.

“These incidents, though far from encompassing the full range of violence witnessed in the United States, illustrate a broader mindset that crosses the political spectrum and must be confronted,” she continued.

“I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is. The Savant is about the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honoring their courage feels more urgent than ever. While I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release for now, I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon.

“Until then, I’m wishing safety and strength for everyone, and I’ll let you know if and when The Savant is released.”

HuffPost UK has contacted Apple TV+ for comment.

The Savant was actually inspired by a real-life article featured in Cosmopolitan magazine in 2019 about a woman who dissuades political violence using the same methods depicted in the show.

As well as Jessica, the cast includes former Orange Is The New Black star Pablo Schreiber and Nnamdi Asomugha, who began his career as an NFL star before making the move into acting and producing.

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Dua Lipa Clarifies Reports Suggesting She Fired Her Former Agent Due To His Pro-Israel Stance

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Dua Lipa has spoken out after recent reports about the parting of ways between herself and her former agent.

Over the weekend, the Daily Mail published a story linking Dua ending her professional relationship with David Levy and the fact he had reportedly signed a letter over the summer calling on Glastonbury organisers to drop Kneecap from their line-up amid controversy surrounding comments the group had made about Israel and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Posting on her Instagram story on Tuesday evening, the Houdini singer – who has previously expressed solidarity with Palestine – maintained that while she does “not condone the actions of David Levy or other music executives toward an artist speaking their truth” she also “cannot ignore how this has been handled in the press”.

“Not only was the story completely false but the language used by the Daily Mail has been deliberately inflammatory, crafted purely for clickbait, clearly designed to fuel online division,” she insisted.

Dua added: “It is always Free Palestine but exploiting a global tragedy in order to sell newspapers is something I find deeply troubling.”

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Dua Lipa calls out the Daily Mail for sharing a false story which involved the singer firing David Levy as her manager:

“It is always Free Palestine but exploiting a global tragedy in order to sell newspapers is something I find deeply troubling.” pic.twitter.com/sPGKy1FsJA

— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 23, 2025

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Dua Lipa calls out the Daily Mail for sharing a false story which involved the singer firing David Levy as her manager:

“It is always Free Palestine but exploiting a global tragedy in order to sell newspapers is something I find deeply troubling.” pic.twitter.com/sPGKy1FsJA

— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 23, 2025

Meanwhile, Dua’s agency WME also issued a statement to BBC News, which read: “Reports suggesting that Dua Lipa or her management dismissed one of our agents because of his political views are categorically false”.

Pointing out that Dua and David worked together in her “early career”, the company’s statement said that the pair officially stopped working together as far back as 2019, although he remained “in an advisory role” on her team until “earlier this year”, at which point they said he moved on to other projects.

The Mail’s online article has now been updated to reflect this, as well as correcting an error suggesting that David had at one point served as Dua’s manager, which is not the case.

So far, 2025 has seen Dua touring the UK in support of her latest album Radical Optimism, notably including two sold-out Wembley Stadium shows, and announcing her engagement to the British actor Callum Turner.

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