Charli XCX has revealed her new album, Wuthering Heights, set for release on February 13, 2026, inspired by Emerald Fennell's upcoming film adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel. The announcement coincides with the release of her second single, 'Chains of Love,' which features prominently in the film's new trailer. The album serves as the soundtrack to the movie, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Album Details
Charli XCX's Wuthering Heights is a 12-track album following her 2024 release Brat and its various expansions, including Brat and It's the Same but There's Three More Songs So It's Not, and the remix album Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat. The project was primarily produced by Finn Keane, formerly known as Easyfun, with whom Charli collaborated throughout much of 2025, even during her tour. The album opens with the recent single 'House,' a collaboration with Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale, released on November 10, 2025. 'Chains of Love,' dropped on November 13, 2025, draws sonic influences from her 2013 debut True Romance, blending filtered vocals with synthpop elements.
In lyrics from 'Chains of Love,' Charli sings of intense, tortured romance: 'I’d rather lay down in thorns / I’d rather drown in a stream / I’d rather light myself on fire / I’d rather wear all these scars.' The hook emphasizes emotional suffocation: 'My face is turning blue / Can’t breathe without you here / The chains of love are cruel / I shouldn’t feel like a prisoner.'
Film Connection
The album ties directly to Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, hitting theaters on Valentine's Day 2026. Charli explained the inspiration in a Substack post: 'I called Emerald and asked her what she was hoping for from my read of the script. She coyly suggested ‘A song?’ and I suggested ‘An album?’ because why not?' She aimed for a sound that was 'elegant and brutal,' drawing from John Cale's description of The Velvet Underground's ethos. The trailer's orchestral version of 'Chains of Love' underscores the star-crossed love between Margot Robbie's Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi's Heathcliff, highlighting dramatic elements like lustful stares, tears, and teasers for intimate scenes.
Robbie recently starred in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey opposite Colin Farrell, while Elordi appeared in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. Beyond this project, Charli is set to star in the A24 film The Moment next year.