The new ‘Wuthering Heights‘ movie has already sparked controversy alongside a wave of excitement. Now, news of Jacob Elordi suffering a bizarre on-set injury during the filming of Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s beloved novel has further captured fans’ attention.
As debates over casting choices and creative vision escalated across social media, audiences began re-evaluating the project, not just for its bold reinterpretation of the classic, but also for the harsh conditions under which the team was working. For Elordi, the incident was nothing short of a freak accident.
Jacob Elordi Was Hospitalized After Thinking Of Going Method For ‘Wuthering Heights’
In an interview with Esquire UK, Elordi and Fennell joked about the possibility of supernatural elements at work on the set of the film. The duo also hinted at the legacy of method acting legend Daniel Day-Lewis.
Elordi recalled a moment when the make-up artist designed the whip scars for his character Heathcliff’s back, and challenged him by saying Day-Lewis would’ve come in with actual scars. The ‘Frankenstein’ star’s reaction? “Well, I’m going to go away and maim myself on the weekend to prove to you that I’m Heathcliff!” That joke took an unfortunate turn.
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Elordi explained how, while removing layers of makeup and dirt after a day of shooting, he had a bizarre injury: “I leaned back in the steam shower, and my back seared against the knob. I stood up screaming; it tore up my back.” A second-degree burn was diagnosed when he returned to work the following Monday.
Casting Controversy Surrounding Heathcliff Explained
The casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff has reignited conversation about the character’s ambiguous racial background. Earlier adaptations cast Black actors in the role. So, Margot Robbie, who plays the love interest, Catherine, defended Elordi: “I saw him play Heathcliff, and he is Heathcliff… Just wait. Trust me, you’ll be happy.”
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The controversy is part of a larger discussion about loyalty to traditional literature and contemporary casting decisions in screen adaptations. Although some fans have expressed concerns about representation, others believe that acting and interpretation are more important. Fennell has remained largely quiet about the controversy, preferring to allow the final product to speak for itself when it is released.
As production presses on, the focus continues to be on how Fennell will reimagine 1847’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ for a modern-day audience. The presence of big-name stars, issues on set, and the continued conversation about the source material have made this film one of the most anticipated literary adaptations in development.
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