Wuthering Heights fans have shared their wildest theories as the hotly anticipated adaptation by Emerald Fennell hits the big screen. The film is the latest spin on Emily Bronte’s iconic, classic work of literature which follows the doomed romance between main characters Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff; a foundling left on the streets of Liverpool who is raised by the Earnshaw family of Wuthering Heights in West Yorkshire.

Despite Cathy and Heathcliff’s obvious passion and love for one another, Cathy agrees to marry a more socially acceptable suitor, Edgar Linton.

She believes the status and subsequent financial benefits of the marriage could help her to assist Heathcliff in escaping the cruelty he’s suffering at the hands of her brother, Hindley, who has inherited Wuthering Heights and resents him for being treated favourably by the Earnshaw siblings’ now deceased father.

Heathcliff misunderstands Cathy’s decision and, after the torment he’s endured, he vows revenge. These misunderstandings drive much of the drama and tension in the novel, leading to dire consequences for the characters involved.

Initially published in 1847 under her pen name Ellis Bell, it’s an enduring, tragic love story that’s spawned multiple adaptations.

Emerald Fennell’s is a big, glitzy interpretation with dramatic costumes and set design that contrasts with more traditional views of the book’s aesthetic. It stars Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff.

On Reddit, one person shared: “Looking at the size of that strawberry, this isn’t going for realism.”

Another said: “I’m honestly surprised that most people didn’t realise that after the trailer. This isn’t supposed to be a straightforward adaptation.”

This paved the way for a few theories to be discussed, with one fan convinced the stylistic costuming and set design allude to something more – a dollhouse.

They explained: “My theory (and I think other people’s too) is the framing device is that it is being acted out by dolls/in a dollhouse – thus ‘Wuthering Heights’ and the eerie dollhouse shot in the trailer and the giant strawberry.”

Someone else replied: “So the sequel to Barbie? Sign me up.” And another said: “Barbie’s gritty reboot.”

Another fan, in an additional Reddit thread made up of a carousel of photo stills from the new film, shared a different theory on why the film is being presented in such a divisive fashion.

They said: “I now have a theory. This isn’t so much Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’, it’s an adaptation of Kate Bush’s ‘Wuthering Heights’.

“It’s the vibe of the music video with Kate Bush dancing in the red dress on the moors, but expanded into an entire film.”

Someone else replied: “I completely buy this. I did a double take at the post title by picture 2, thinking that picture 1 could be some type of dream sequence maybe, but maybe I did read the movie title wrong.

“But seeing your theory makes perfect sense to me. Kate’s video/aesthetic is iconic after all, so they’ve clearly taken inspiration from that ‘version’ of Wuthering Heights.”