Jacob Elordi stepped onto the red carpet at Sydney’s historic State Theatre on February 12, 2026, radiating an intensity that felt ripped straight from the windswept moors of Yorkshire. Dressed in a sharp blue double-breasted suit that hugged his tall frame perfectly, the 28-year-old Australian actor flashed a dazzling surprise: a custom 14-karat gold tooth cap glittering under the flashbulbs. This wasn’t mere red-carpet flair—it was a deliberate, deeply personal tribute to Heathcliff, the tormented anti-hero he portrays in Emerald Fennell’s bold new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. The tooth, iced with two 1.3-mm white diamonds and hand-engraved with the intertwined initials “C + H” for Catherine and Heathcliff, symbolized the character’s transformation from ragged orphan to wealthy, vengeful landowner. In that single accessory, Elordi bridged the gap between method acting and high-fashion homage, turning a subtle on-screen detail into a sparkling declaration of immersion.

Posing alongside his co-star Margot Robbie, who shimmered in a flowing off-the-shoulder ivory gown with a structured boned corset bodice, sheer tulle sleeves, and a mermaid-style skirt layered in delicate tulle, Elordi exuded effortless charisma. The pair, both Queensland natives returning home for the Australian premiere, shared easy smiles and playful glances that fueled months of speculation about their on- and off-screen chemistry. Fans had already dissected their press tour interactions—Robbie teasing Elordi’s habit of “lurking” nearby during filming, Elordi admitting he’d stay within “five to ten metres” of her at all times just to observe her grace. Now, on home soil, that rapport felt electric, amplified by the homecoming energy and the film’s Valentine’s Day-adjacent release on February 13, 2026.

Directed by Emerald Fennell—the visionary behind Promising Young Woman and Saltburn—this Wuthering Heights reimagines Brontë’s 1847 Gothic masterpiece as a primal, sensual epic of lust, obsession, and madness. Fennell, who also wrote the screenplay and produced alongside Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment and MRC, has crafted a hyper-stylized vision that leans into the novel’s raw emotional undercurrents. Robbie stars as Catherine Earnshaw, the wild-spirited woman torn between societal duty and all-consuming passion, while Elordi embodies Heathcliff, the brooding outsider whose love curdles into revenge. Supporting roles feature a stellar ensemble: Hong Chau as the loyal narrator Nelly Dean, Shazad Latif as the refined Edgar Linton, Alison Oliver as Isabella Linton, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell, with Owen Cooper portraying the young Heathcliff.

The gold tooth itself originates from the film, where it marks Heathcliff’s ascent to fortune and status after years of hardship. What began as a prosthetic for the screen became a permanent fixture for the premiere—crafted by jeweler Maison Raksha, the same piece Elordi wore on camera. Founder Jonathan Raksha later described it as a “romantic” nod, with the “C + H” monogram hidden in plain sight, visible only up close or in a wide grin. Elordi’s decision to debut it publicly sparked immediate buzz: photographers adjusted flashes for the metallic gleam, fans on social media dubbed it “method dressing at its finest,” and outlets like Page Six and People highlighted the “swoon-worthy hidden meaning.” It wasn’t just bling; it was storytelling carried onto the carpet, a physical reminder of the character’s evolution and Elordi’s commitment to the role.

The Sydney premiere marked the culmination of a whirlwind press tour that had taken the stars from London rain-soaked arrivals (where Elordi gallantly shielded Robbie from downpours) to global interviews emphasizing the film’s intensity. Robbie, speaking to British Vogue, described tender moments that left her “weak at the knees” and addressed expectations of raunchiness: “Everyone’s expecting this to be very, very raunchy. I think people will be surprised.” She filmed some scenes just three months after giving birth to her son in October 2024 with husband Tom Ackerley, praising Fennell’s supportive direction for easing her postpartum anxieties. Elordi, meanwhile, revealed in a Fandango chat how he absorbed Robbie’s every move on set, calling it an honor to share space with such talent.

Yet beneath the glamour lurks controversy. Casting Elordi as Heathcliff drew early backlash, with some literary purists arguing the character’s ambiguous ethnic origins—often interpreted as Romani or of darker complexion—demanded a different representation. Casting director Kharmel Cochrane defended the choice, acknowledging potential discontent among “English Lit fans,” while Robbie insisted, “I saw him play Heathcliff. And he is Heathcliff. Just wait. Trust me, you’ll be happy.” Fennell herself emphasized a visceral, emotional response to the novel, aiming for something “primal, sexual.” Trailers and set photos teased a visually opulent take—moody moors, lavish costumes, intense close-ups—while whispers of “severe” warnings for explicit content hinted at boundary-pushing intimacy.

The State Theatre event drew a star-studded crowd, including Hailey Bieber (in town for her Rhode beauty launch) and Taron Edgerton, alongside family, friends, and even Elordi’s old schoolmates who surprised him on the carpet, evoking genuine emotion from the usually composed star. Videos captured the excitement: fans cheering, Elordi beaming with that golden flash, Robbie radiant beside him. Post-premiere, the pair extended the celebration, making unannounced appearances at screenings in Brisbane, delighting Queensland audiences in true homecoming fashion.

This adaptation arrives at a pivotal moment for period dramas. Fennell’s signature style—dark humor, psychological depth, aesthetic excess—infuses Brontë’s tale with contemporary edge, much like how Saltburn twisted class satire into erotic thriller territory. Comparisons to the 1939 classic starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon abound, yet this version promises a bolder exploration of desire and destruction. The novel’s themes—social class barriers, destructive passion, the supernatural pull of the moors—resonate anew in an era hungry for complex romances that refuse tidy resolutions.

Elordi’s gold tooth transcends gimmick; it encapsulates the film’s spirit. Heathcliff’s journey from outcast to empowered figure mirrors the actor’s own trajectory—from breakout in Euphoria and The Kissing Booth to A-list leading man in prestige projects. Wearing the cap publicly was a statement: full immersion, no half-measures. It invited audiences to see the character not as distant literary icon but as visceral, present force.

As theaters filled on February 13, anticipation peaked. Would the chemistry translate to screen? Could Fennell’s vision capture Brontë’s haunting essence while adding modern fire? Early reactions suggested a polarizing yet unforgettable experience—steamy, stylized, emotionally raw. Robbie and Elordi’s partnership, already electric in promotion, hinted at on-screen sparks that could ignite box offices.

In the end, that Sydney night crystallized something larger: the power of stars channeling characters beyond the frame. Elordi’s glittering tribute reminded everyone that great performances linger, sparkling long after the credits roll. As Heathcliff might growl on the moors, some loves—and some tributes—refuse to fade. They endure, golden and unyielding, etched into memory like initials on precious metal.