Wuthering Heights (2011 film)

Wuthering Heights
Directed by	Andrea Arnold
Produced by	Robert Bernstein Kevin Loader Douglas Rae
Written by	Andrea Arnold Olivia Hetreed
Based on	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Starring	Kaya Scodelario James Howson Soloman Glave Shannon Beer Steve Evets Oliver Milburn Paul Hilton Lee Shaw James Northcote Amy Wren Nichola Burley
Cinematography	Robbie Ryan
Edited by	Nicolas Chaudeurge
Production company	HanWay Films Ecosse Films Film4 UK Film Council Screen Yorkshire Goldcrest Films International
Distributed by	Curzon Artificial Eye
Release date	6 September 2011 (2011-09-06) (Venice) 11 November 2011 (2011-11-11) (United Kingdom)
Running time	129 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£5 million
Box office	$1.7 million

Wuthering Heights is a 2011 British romantic realist, 'period-drama' film directed by Andrea Arnold and starring Kaya Scodelario as Catherine and James Howson as Heathcliff. The screenplay, written by Andrea Arnold and Olivia Hetreed, is based on Emily Brontë's 1847 Wuthering Heights.

Announced in April 2008, Natalie Portman was originally set to star as Cathy in a new film adaptation of the novel, but she withdrew in May. In May 2008, director John Maybury cast Michael Fassbender as Heathcliff and Abbie Cornish as Cathy. However, in May 2009, Peter Webber was announced as the new director, with Ed Westwick and Gemma Arterton attached to play Heathcliff and Cathy respectively. However, the film did not get off the ground and in January 2010, it was announced that Andrea Arnold would direct the adaptation. In April, she cast Kaya Scodelario as Catherine, a more age-appropriate choice than previous adaptations.

Due to Brontë's description of Heathcliff as "dark-skinned gypsy in aspect" and "a little Lascar", Arnold searched for an actor from the UK's Romani community. However, the community had some doubts. The search was then expanded to Yorkshire actors aged 16 to 21 of mixed race, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Middle Eastern descent. In November, it was reported that James Howson had been cast as Heathcliff, the first time a black actor would portray the role. Lucy Pardee was in charge of casting the children in the film (Gail Stevens cast the adults). Pardee auditioned private school children with no history of acting.