Ed Westwick Cast In 'Wuthering Heights' (PHOTOS)

'Gossip Girl' guy Ed Westwick has landed a role to move him off televisions and onto the big screen in a new version of 'Wuthering Heights.' According to Variety, he will play Heathcliff alongside Bond girl Gemma Arterton as Cathy.

Project has also seen a number of cast changes. Natalie Portman was originally tapped to play the role of Cathy. Scheduling conflicts saw her exit the project before being replaced by Abbie Cornish. Arterton will now play the iconic romantic role after producers opted to go younger with the pic.

For those unfamiliar with the 'Gossip Girl' oeuvre, below is a slideshow of Westwick over the past few years.

PHOTOS:

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In his pre-"Gossip Girl" days in 2006

Comments

[Meli718]

Ed Westwick is actually a damn good actor. He would make an amazing Heathcliff. . . Just watch it when it comes out he will shock the pants off of you. Don't let the pretty face fool you. . .

[JoJoRae]

Tom Hardy was an excellant Heathcliffe in a version I saw on PBS, too bad they changed so much of the book that even Hardy could not save the film.

[Ponderus]

You mean he's not playing Cathy?

[lil11]

Of course, now that I think about it, Mr. Westwick will probably do all he can to muster the best performance possible, as he knows what he is up against with the previous men who has played this role.

[marcain]

The version I liked best was Timothy Dalton's Heathcliff from the early 70s. I always wanted Johnny Depp to play Heathcliff. The guy chosen seems too peachy faced, I hope he can act. This is really a woman's type of story, but I've always enjoyed the characters.

[Steamboater]

I never read the book. Is Heathcliff so young? This actor looks like a 16 yr old.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

Glad to hear it. It'll give him a chance to stretch and prove he can act.

[bartonfink]

yep. he needs to prove that

[DeeW]

hmmm...it's one of my favorites so I hope they don't mess it up. He doesn't look like Heathcliff. Very child-like looking.

[James Walley]

Whatever the casting, let's hope they film the entire novel this time, instead of coming up with a fabricated conclusion to end the film about half-way through the book, as happened with the famous Olivier version, as well as the Timothy Dalton remake in 1971.

[dahpunkster]

adrian brody would also make a good heathcliff

[lil11]

I 2nd that. Adrian would be a good choice aesthetically for sure and otherwise.

[dahpunkster]

scarlett Johannson as cathy

[dahpunkster]

they can't be serious, Horrible choice. Johnny depp or Ralph Fiennes SHOULD BE HEATHCLIFF.

[jones]

yeah... Johnny Depp would be good as Heathcliff.

[jeliz]

Ralph Fiennes WAS Heathcliff in a remake in 1992. Go to You Tube.

[CloudBreak]

Ralph Fiennes has been Heathcliff and he was fantastic. Apparently it was this performance which convinced Steven Spielberg to give Ralph the part of Amon Goeth in Schindler's List.
I can not say I have seen any of Ed Westwick's work but he looks very young and I think it will take more than a pretty face to portray a believable Heathcliff . But then again it will probably be directed at a very young audience who have never read Wuthering Heights or any of Bronte's work.

[Steamboater]

Good casting dahpunkster! Fienne's brother (I forget his name) would be good too and for the female lead Rachel Weis (sp?) would be fine, or Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage). :)

[avocats]

Oh, Lord, spare us this adolescent poseur's "acting." Surely, they cannot be considering him for the role that Olivier did.

[mshasta]

Bad boy....nice

[babina]

I am tired tonight, many typos I must correct!

One of my all time favorite books. Gosh, the first time I read it must have been thirty years ago and I still remember sobbing for hours after finishing it. Now that is a great bookl! Perhaps I'll buy a new one and read it again.