"In the Waiting Room, a Hair Altar..." Margot Robbie X Jacob Elordi, A Madness Romance "Wuthering Heights"

Director Emerald Fennell, who shocked the world with "Promising Young Woman", is back with the essence of classic literature, "Wuthering Heights". She is joined by top Hollywood stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.

According to reports from Variety and other foreign media on the 11th (Korean time), the movie "Wuthering Heights" will be released simultaneously in theaters worldwide, including North America and the UK, on the 13th, the day before Valentine's Day. The industry predicts that the opening weekend box office revenue will reach about $40 million (approximately 54 billion won).

◆ "This is not 'Wuthering Heights'"

Director Fennell intentionally placed quotation marks around the movie title. She explained, "The original novel is so complex and difficult that a perfect adaptation is impossible. I can't say I made the original. I just created my own 'version'". She mentioned that while preparing for this work, she referenced films with intense mise-en-scène and bold love stories, including Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden", "Bram Stoker's Dracula", and "Romeo and Juliet", raising expectations.

◆ Strange Rituals on Set

The behind-the-scenes stories from the set are also typical of Fennell. Margot Robbie recently revealed on the Today Show, "Emerald came into our waiting room and made an 'Altar' for each other". Robbie shared, "In my room, there was an altar with Jacob's photos, hair pieces, and candles, and in Jacob's room, there was my altar. It was really absurd yet funny", conveying the director's unique and immersive directing style.

◆ Mixed Reactions Predict Box Office Success

Before its release, the film faced criticism for casting white actor Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, suggesting an erasure of the original's racial depiction (whitewashing). Since the premiere on January 28, critics have had mixed reviews, with some pointing out that it is "overly stylized" while others praise that "the actors' performances and the director's vision are overwhelming".

Produced by LuckyChap Entertainment, led by Margot Robbie, and distributed by Warner Bros, it remains to be seen whether this film can overcome the controversies and become a winner at the Valentine's Day box office.