As we suspected, Andrea Arnold is set to cast two unknowns as the leads in her upcoming adaptation of Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights.” The classic tale of tragic lovers was previously set to be helmed by Peter Webber, with Ed Westwick and Gemma Arterton starring.
Casting calls are noting that the director is looking for “2 unknown actors from Yorkshire, UK for starring roles” through a series of open auditions. Here are the new character breakdowns:
HEATHCLIFF (Male)
Description: 16-24 years old
Genuine Romany Gypsy/ South Asian/ Mediterranean/ Indian/ Mixed Race Appearance
Ideally from Yorkshire
No experience necessaryCATHERINE EARNSHAW (Female)
Description: 15-21 years old
Pale skinned, fair haired, feisty.
Genuine Yorkshire actress preferred. Light Yorkshire accent required.
No experienced necessary.
Looks like Arnold is going down the Katie Jarvis route, who was famously discovered yelling at her boyfriend at a train station. It worked wonders for “Fish Tank” so we don’t blame her, but it’s certainly a risky move forgoing the luxuries of brand name talent like Cary Fukunaga and his take on a fellow Bronte novel, “Jane Eyre.”
Deadline are describing the project as a ‘Twilight’-ed take on the story, but other than the focus on the “youthful, teenage aspect of the protagonists,” it seems very much like the Arnold way of doing things for the self-described “astonishing vision of perverted passion and passionate perversity.”
Filming will begin late-April through to June in Scotland and Ireland, even though open casting sessions were underway just this week.
