Margot Robbie is drawing significant attention as she promotes her upcoming 2026 film, Wuthering Heights, alongside co-star Jacob Elordi. Their highly publicized interactions during the press events have sparked debate about whether the romantic chemistry they display is genuine or a calculated promotional strategy. This buzz is intensified by concerns voiced by people close to Robbie’s husband, Tom Ackerley, who question the nature of her on-screen and off-screen connection with Elordi.
Concerns from Tom Ackerley’s Inner Circle
According to a report from Star magazine, friends of Tom Ackerley are uneasy about the dynamic between Robbie and Elordi. An anonymous source described the situation as unsettling for Ackerley, saying,
“The way Margot has been carrying on with Jacob has everyone wondering what the heck is going on with her and Tom… The poor guy has to just stand back and watch her all over the hottest guy in the industry right now. It’s got to be humiliating for him.”
Despite these worries, Ackerley reportedly remains composed and considers the displays between Robbie and Elordi purely professional. The same source noted,
“Tom insists he’s fine with it all, that it’s just business and there’s nothing to worry about with Jacob… But his friends aren’t really buying it. They’re convinced Tom’s in denial and warning him that Jacob could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Actors Embrace On-Set Intensity for Promotion
The apparent heat between Robbie and Elordi is not understated during interviews and promotional appearances. The pair has openly spoken about a mutual obsession growing while filming the adaptation of Emerald Fennell’s take on the classic Emily Brontë novel. Jacob Elordi told Fandango that he deliberately remained close—within five to ten meters—to Robbie during shooting, fascinated by her creative process and feeling enamored by her approach.
In turn, Robbie revealed a tendency to become codependent with her co-stars and described early days of production as disorienting when Elordi wasn’t nearby. Their shared commitment to embodying the intense, poetic nature of the story extends to wearing matching signet rings inscribed with a line from Brontë’s work:
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
How This Comparison Measures Up Against Past Fauxmances
Instances of press tour chemistry blurring lines between publicity and reality are not new. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell famously played into are they or aren’t they? speculation during the promotion of Anyone But You, later admitting the rumors were leveraged to stir excitement.
However, the situation with Robbie and Elordi is layered differently. Robbie isn’t an emerging star testing public limits; she has been married to Ackerley since 2016. Together, they co-founded the production company LuckyChap, and they recently welcomed a child, illustrating a well-established personal and professional partnership. Ackerley is also involved as an executive producer on Wuthering Heights. This history complicates the narrative of impropriety.
Media Speculation vs. Strategic Marketing
The ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ warning feels particularly sensational given the facts. Even the source conceding the rumors admit that the heightened attention ultimately benefits the film’s visibility and ticket sales, noting,
“good for the movie and ticket sales.”
Wuthering Heights is a sweeping romance marked by obsession and deep emotional entanglement, so the cast’s intense interactions reflect the tone of the film’s source material more than real-life discord. The current media frenzy appears to be motivated by an appetite for behind-the-scenes drama rather than actual tension in Robbie’s marriage or professional life.
Anticipation Builds Ahead of Film Release
Wuthering Heights is scheduled to premiere in theaters this Friday, February 13. Fans and moviegoers are encouraged to check local listings for showtimes as the film promises a passionate, immersive adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic tale, amplified by the palpable on- and off-screen energy surrounding its stars.
