I agree. She's very different from the Catherine I imagined, but I can't think of anyone else either...

Hmm, I could see them casting Dominic Cooper as Heathcliff.

She seems too upbeat to be Catherine - sadly when you asked who would make a good Heathcliff, the first name that popped into my head was Heath Ledger.

Gerard Butler

i loved this book in high school and sadly i don't really remember it! i might have to re-read

No one can top Merle Oberon. Or Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff. And she's American. Couldn't they find a British girl?

I agree that Heath Ledger would have been a brilliant Heathcliff.

i also like natalie in modern roles better than period ones. her accents always bother me. i have no idea about heathcliff...

These remakes, I hope this will not suck. I love that movie.

Interesting choice for Cathy. I agree she's not someone I would've cast in the part but she's a good actress so I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. There are a ton of British actresses who could've killed in this role though...so that make me a little sad.

On the otherhand I have to agree with fleurfairy...no one can top Merle Oberon.

I think it's going to be hard to top Laurence Olivier too...but Gerard Butler is a good suggestion (he looks the part for sure) or maybe Richard Armitage. You definitely need someone super intense...Daniel Craig-like...he fits the bill too.

FAVORITE BOOK EVER!!! I think Keira Knightly would have been a little better, just because she can do fiery well (which Catherine was!). I would LOVE Johnny Depp to be Heathcliff--the only person who IMO could do the dirty-yet-sexy-gypsy look...sigh.

Okay - I'm obsessed with finding a suitable Heathcliff now...although I agree Heath would've been wonderful. He had the physical and emotional presence and intensity that would've been perfect.

Keeping those factors in mind...the other names that popped into my head (keeping in mind hair colour can be changed): Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Damian Lewis, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy (he's possibly too slight build-wise for it but he's intense!)

There's a British actress - Rebecca Hall - who I think would've been wonderful choice for Cathy. Oh well...it is Hollywood after all.

Hm I don't really like the choice. I like Natalie a lot but she doesn't seem as brash or harsh as I envisioned Cathrine.
I think maybe Javier Bardem could make a very good Heathcliff. He's already proven to be extremely intense in his other movies so I think he'd be a good fit.

i agree with heath ledger. especially with his hair the color it was in 10 things i hate about you. jonahtan rhys-meyers could be good too, but he might be too pretty for the role and he'd def have to gain some weight.

i really don't like natalie as catherine. i think she comes off as too meek and catherine was anything but.

i love the book so i really hope this movie turns out well, but i would say it's off to a questionable start as far as the casting.

I love Natalie Portman but I don't think she should keep playing these British roles. But I'm really interested to see a new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, although I liked Jane Eyre much better.

I agree, I can't picture her in this role. But Wuthering Heights was my favorite book in school, so I hope the movie is fabulous.

i was thinking that either natalie or keira would be great in this role. we're used to seeing both of them in period pieces. as for who should play opposite her - i'm still on the fence about that. everyone will go to james mcavoy...but i don't know who else....hmmmm.

I actually always imagined Catharine to be petite, just like Natalie - but craaazy. I think Natalie would make a great Catherine, she's got the acting chops to pull off Catherine's insanity.

i always thought that Rachel Weiss would make a good Catherine, but I don't mind the Natalie Portman choice. She was great in The Other Boyeln Girl.

OMFG.

For real?
WOW. They're really serious about remaking this movie (thank you God).

Um, yeah, I saw her in Star Wars, and I don't know whether it's her acting or the script (thanks for the cheezy lines, Lucas), but she was so dry and hardly believable as someone fully in love w/ Anakin Skywalker.

So I don't know how she can play Catherine and express her passionate, fiery nature.
This will be VERY interesting to see.

Who's playing Heathcliff?

HENRY CAVILL!!!!!

Ooooh! Rachel Weiss! Yes, sing2day, she would have been great!

Nevaeh: given none of the actors shone in those last few films, I don't think the problem was Natalie (although I agree, she was pretty horrible).

I think this will be a good stretch for her, if she can pull it off.

keira knightly would have been good as catherine....

Ugh, am I the only one who couldnt stand this book and didnt see what was so great about it. I love to read and literally "absorb" books in a few hours, but reading this was p-a-i-n-f-u-l.

I hope she doesn't ruin this remake, but I bet she will. An English actress would have been better, or, at least, an American who can do accents. I love this book but am extremely wary about a remake.

RiceGirlReese, rent the DVD fast!! Breathtaking! Maybe you couldn't imagine the story enough, but to see it, is a totally different experience.

NATALIE PORTMAN CAN'T ACT.
I agree Keira could pull it off effortlessly. Let's see... Heathcliff. I could see McAvoy. His eyes don't show TOO much life experience like Rhys-Meyers or Jackman, for example. I think you need someone with a mix of angst and darkness. What about Eric Bana?

RiceGirl, I don't like the book either - I can't get into moodiness on the moors - but Heath would have been perfect.

This is quite a coincidence because I'm reading Wuthering Heights now! I'm really obsessed with it and, as I was searching information about films based on it, I learned about this new version with Natalie Portman!

If he was younger, the best Heathcliff, the more intense one would be Daniel Day-Lewis. I always thought he was born to play this role. Joachim Phoenix would be great to; he is, like Day-Lewis, an actor with a dark side... like Ralph Fiennes, though... and Heath Ledger, unfortunately... who would also have been great.

But I'm not sure about Portman. I would have prefered a strong actress with a huge scope like Kate Winslett.

So, I'll go straight away finish my book...

pssch, pass on kiera. i'm sick of her in period pieces.

we'll see how natalie does... i'm not too confident in her either.

heath ledger would have been perfect. =(

I love this book, and for me the best movie version was the one with Juliette Binoche as Cathy and Ralph Fiennes as Heathcliff. I thought they were perfect. I do think, though, that Keira Knightley would be a far better choice than Natalie Portman. As for Heathcliff... maybe Stuart Townsend?

I think she will do an amazing job portraying the character we all are so familiar with but bring her sense of innocence and sophistication to the role. She is an amazingly talented actress and I will no doubt be a great Catherine!

I think she will do an amazing job portraying the character we all are so familiar with but bring her sense of innocence and sophistication to the role. She is an amazingly talented actress and I will no doubt be a great Catherine!

I wonder if Natalie is not a bit overrated as an actress, just like Keira BTW. I mean, compare any of them to Kate Winslet or Rachel Weiss (not sure about the spelling) and you'll really see the difference between a goood actress and a terrific actress. So uh... wrong casting, definitely. Portman doesn't have an ounce of passion inside of her, at least none that shows up on her face.
That and the fact she can't pull a British accent...

ah yes, Rachel Weiss--I could definitely see her as Catherine! Good call too about Natalie's bad British accent...hmm, I'm still wishing Johnny Depp would get the part of Heathcliff!

Clive Owen would have been perfect but he is too old I think...

I remember not being a fan of this (or any other Bronte sisters') work. But I've been meaning to return to it and give it another try...

I don't like it when they remake classic movies. I think they should be left alone to be what they are, which is wonderful one of a kind classic movies.

But I think Natalie will do a fine job. I usually enjoy her work.

Personally, I didn't like the novel. Someone else mentioned Jane Eyre...and I think that one hurts even worse. I know some people are in love with late 1700'ish early 1800s novels, but I'm not one of them. To be honest I probably won't even watch the film, but I have seen the old Wuthering Heights and I think Natalie is a bit odd for the part.

I am not happy with this. I find Natalie Portman's performances to be quite wooden. I adore this book, and I am really disappointed that she has been tapped to play Catherine.

i love this book...i hope the rest of the casting and direction is good

I think from her performance in Closer and The Other Boleyn Girl that she can be intense and dark enough for the role, but I have no idea who I'd imagine playing opposite her. Honestly though, I wouldn't have imagined her or Keira Knightley in the role to begin with. I have to agree that I'd like to see her in more modern roles. Same for Keira Knightley. I'm getting tired of the period pieces.

i've always thought of heath ledger as heathcliff. maybe its just the name?

Heath Ledger was named after Heathcliff. Wuthering Heights was his mother's favorite book.

I HATE this book with a passion, but I might see it because of Natalie Portman, just to see how she does. Juliette Binoche was great as Catherine and Ralph Fiennes was a good Heathcliff, even though all I wanted to do was grab a hold of him and wash his hair. So greasy! When I thought about who should play Heathcliff in the new version I immediately thought of Gerard Butler. The man is fine and I wouldn't think twice about seeing this movie if he were in it!

Joaquin Phoenix as Heathcliff! I think someone else suggested this before. He can have such a dark, but yet vulnerable side, oh I'm getting chills just thinking of the possibilities!

So, you agree with me that Phoenix would play a terrific Heathcliff, do you? The character needs to be embodied by a violent actor, a physical one, with someting "rough", yet vulnerable, as you said, and Phoenix excells playing the taciturn guys. And personnally, he could have greasy hair... that doesn't matter! (... Heathcliff isn't at all clean and perfect and nice all along the book! In the case of Fiennes greasy hairs, it contributes to show the mental degeneration of Heathcliff.)

For sure, the role of Heathcliff is that kind of character to be played by a first quality actor, a multi-dimensionnal one.

Just imagine a duet Winslett/Phoenix!

But I'll applause if Johnny Depp is chosen, really!...

i thought johnny depp and angelina jolie were going to star in a wuthering heights adaptation? i'd rather see them, though i like natalie.

Noooo, Angelina is too sensual for the fragile Cathy. I like Phoenix and Winslet much better.

But I think you're right, sleekeasy, when you say that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp were going to star in an adaptation of the novel (it's a 2006 rumour). I agree, Angelina doesn't fit at all!!

Am I mis-remembering or was Cathy blonde? In any case, I think Portman can pull it off. She's not who I would have chosen - Cathy to me is slightly insane, and Portman always seems so grounded. I would've chosen something with a little bit of crazy behind them. Like a younger Helena Bonham Carter.

God forbid this role should have gone to Keira Knightly. We've already had a stick-thin, petulant, immature Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice). I couldn't imagine her ruining this classic too! (Sorry, but I am on the Keira hater train).

Whoever said Joaquin Phoenix - I agree. Someone who'd also be great is Toby Stephens (the son of Dame Maggie Smith, actually). However I doubt they'd choose him as he played Mr. Rochester (stunningly, I may add) in the most recent BBC/PBS version of Jane Eyre. Check it out if you haven't seen it. It's the only movie version of that book I've enjoyed.

Just as a side note, since people have been mentioning Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre in tandem, FYI, they were written by different Bronte sisters, not the same person.