Arterton Joins Westwick in ‘Wuthering Heights’ Death Match

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 18, 2009

Fresh off the discussion being generated by Landon Palmer’s latest Book v. Movie installment of Culture Warrior, there’s this wonderful little news item about a Bond girl and a Gossip Girl (guy) joining up for a new adaptation of the enduring classic “Wuthering Heights.”

Of course, the Bond girl is Gemma Arterton, who seems to be getting a steady amount of work coming off that Quantum of Solace role, and the Gossip Girl is Ed Westwick, who will probably have to put that date-rape charm away to play Heathcliff. For those keeping score, it means that they’ve found replacements for Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman who were being announced in the roles almost exactly a year ago.

Plus, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has found a director in Peter Webber – the man who brought the world The Girl with the Pearl Earring and several brilliant episodes of “Six Feet Under.”

Unfortunately, it looks like Emily Bronte’s only novel won’t be getting the rewrite treatment to include zombies or vampires or anything all that exciting. Then again, maybe it’ll be refreshing to see a straightforward adaptation of a class-defying romantic icon.

What do you think? Did you know that ‘Wuthering’ is a slang word for turbulent weather? Neither did I!

Read more articles by Dr. Cole Abaius