Depp Stars as Scrooge
Johnny Depp Returns to Hollywood in Ti West's Dark Christmas Carol Adaptation
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Ti West said he rereads Dickens’s novella every year and is drawn to it more as a ghost story than a Christmas story. He also said he and screenwriter Nathaniel Halpern introduce moral ambiguities while aiming to remain loyal to the source.
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The trailer includes a surreal sequence in which Scrooge is swallowed by his bed, shouting, “No, no, no! Let go of me, bed!” and another in which he appears in a grave as soil is thrown over him.
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Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July while staying in character as Scrooge; when an attendee wished him a good day, he replied, “What’s so good about it?” and signed off with “Humbug.”
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West said he wanted to avoid a meta reinterpretation, describing the film as genuine and reverent toward Dickens’s text, while acknowledging that it has its own perspective and makes some deviations.
Paramount has released a trailer for Ti West's dark reimagining of Charles Dickens's *A Christmas Carol*, with Johnny Depp starring as Ebenezer Scrooge in full horror mode. AOL reported that the film features supernatural scares, physical comedy, and Depp making mischief on Christmas Eve as three spirits haunt him. The ensemble cast includes Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley, Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, and Sam Claflin.
The film marks Depp's return to a major Hollywood studio production after years away from such roles. Yahoo News noted that Depp's portrayal of Scrooge looks "genuinely terrifying" in the trailer. Paramount is scheduled to release *Ebenezer* in theaters on November 13, 2026.
Ti West Views the Story as Pure Ghost Horror
Director Ti West told reporters he rereads Dickens's novella every year. Where Is the Buzz reported that West sees the classic tale "more as a ghost story than a Christmas story." He said he and screenwriter Nathaniel Halpern introduce moral ambiguities while remaining loyal to Dickens's 1843 source material. West emphasized avoiding a meta reinterpretation, calling the film "genuine and reverent" toward the text.
Depp's Scrooge Delivers Surreal and Manic Moments
The trailer shows Scrooge in deeply unsettling sequences. Yahoo News highlighted a scene where Scrooge is swallowed by his own bed, shouting, "No, no, no! Let go of me, bed!" Another shot shows him in a grave as soil is thrown over him. Between the horror, Depp's Scrooge also engages in physical comedy — throwing snowballs at passersby and mocking charity collectors, blending supernatural terror with mischievous antics.
Depp Stays in Character at San Diego Comic-Con
Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July while staying fully in character as Scrooge. When an attendee wished him a good day, Entertainment Weekly reported that Depp replied, "What's so good about it?" and signed off with "Humbug." The appearance doubled as a promotion before Depp presented the film at the Collider "Directors on Directing" panel in Hall H.
A Comeback Role for Depp After Studio Hiatus
*Ebenezer* represents Depp's first major Hollywood studio film with Paramount after several years spent away from studio tentpoles. AOL noted that the role follows high-profile legal battles that sidelined the actor from mainstream projects. Industry observers view the November 13, 2026 release as a critical test of whether Depp can reclaim top-tier commercial star power with global audiences.
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