Margot Robbie just stepped onto the set of her new movie, and the internet is, predictably, losing its mind.
On Friday (March 21), the 34-year-old Oscar-nominated actress was spotted frolicking through a misty countryside in full bridal glory for Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë’s classic novel about toxic love, dramatic weather, and people yelling each other’s names into the wind.
Margot was decked out in an off-the-shoulder white silk gown featuring a bustier top, puffy sleeves big enough to smuggle snacks into the theater, a dramatic full skirt, and a veil so long it could probably pick up its own Wi-Fi signal. The whole look screamed ghostly Victorian elegance with a touch of “I’m about to make a terrible decision.”
But as with all things on the internet, the joy was short-lived. Fans of Wuthering Heights took one look at the photos and immediately pulled out their metaphorical quills (or, more realistically, their keyboards) to express deep distress. The issue? Math.
The Age-Gatekeeping Begins
If you’ve read Wuthering Heights (or at least skimmed the SparkNotes), you’ll know that Margot’s character, Catherine Earnshaw, is supposed to be 18 or 19 when she dramatically perishes after giving birth. And some fans simply could not fathom a 34-year-old woman playing a teenager—because, as we all know, Hollywood has never done that before.
“Lord knows I love Margot Robbie, but casting someone in their 30s as a character who dies at 18 (EIGHTEEN) is really odd. The prematurity of Cathy’s death is a whole turning point in the story,” one person lamented on X (formerly known as Twitter, but still known for chaos).
Another fan, seemingly moonlighting as a historical fashion expert, added: “I hate it already. The dress and bouquet are all wrong for the era. And yes, I’m going to say it. As much as I love Margot Robbie, she’s too old to play Catherine. Urgh 😩.”
(Tragic sigh. Deep breath. Victorian swoon.)
But Some Fans Are Here for It
Not everyone was clutching their pearls over this casting choice. Some fans, lured in by Margot’s undeniable It Girl energy, are choosing to look on the aesthetically pleasing, windswept-bride side of things.
“Ok, so I know we were all against the Wuthering Heights casting/miscasting, but after seeing this pic, I’m very much intrigued 👀,” one person wrote. “It’s guaranteed to be visually stunning & aesthetically pleasing! And also, obviously, I’ll be sat because I absolutely adore Margot Elise Robbie ✨.”
And honestly? Fair. If anyone can make a tragic love story about brooding and bad decisions feel iconic, it’s Margot.
As for how closely the film will follow the book, that remains a mystery. Will they stick to the original plot? Will Heathcliff’s brooding be even broodier? Will someone finally explain why everyone in this novel makes such objectively terrible life choices?
We’ll find out when Wuthering Heights hits theaters in February 2026. Until then, expect more dramatic sighing, literary gatekeeping, and at least five more viral Margot Robbie moments.
