Andrea Arnold seems to enjoy working with raw, unpolished talent. She directed the completely unknown Katie Jarvis to huge critical praise in “Fish Tank” and the director is hoping to repeat that success with James Howson, another newcomer who landed the lead role in the forthcoming adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.”
With Howson as the tortured tortured Heathcliff, he’s being joined by Kaya Scodelario as Cathy and Nichola Burley as Isabella Linton in a decidedly different version of Emily Brontë‘s novel that puts far younger protagonists into the roles that most adaptations have to date. Howson also marks the first black actor to play the role of Heathcliff. The project is based on a script by Olivia Hetreed (”Girl with a Pearl Earring”) and also adding to the creative stew, Mumford & Sons have recorded a new song for the film as well.
The film will get out of the gate at the upcoming Venice Film Festival where it will play in competition before likely crossing over the Atlantic to hit the fall festival circuit on this side of the ocean. The project is certainly Arnold’s most ambitious yet, her first period piece but one imbued with her own distinct stamp. We can’t wait. [RopeOfSilicon]
