- Johnny Depp is set to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Paramount’s new film, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, marking his return to major studio movies.
- The project is a significant comeback for the actor following the contentious legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard that saw him ostracized from Hollywood.
- Acclaimed horror director Ti West (X, Pearl) is attached to direct the film, which is slated for a November 13, 2026 release.
- The movie is described as a “thrilling ghost story,” with Depp’s casting drawing parallels to the character’s journey of seeking a second chance.
A Ghost of Hollywood Past Returns
In a move sending ripples through the industry, Johnny Depp is making his official return to the big-studio system. Paramount Pictures is finalizing negotiations to acquire Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a new take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, with Depp attached to play the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. This marks the actor’s most significant Hollywood project since he was effectively blacklisted during his defamation lawsuits.
The studio is reportedly so confident in the project that it is already eyeing a November 13, 2026, release date. Joining Depp is actress Andrea Riseborough, with a script penned by Nathaniel Halpern. The film is described as “a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens’ London, following one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present and future and fight for a second chance.”
From Horror Maestro to Holiday Classic
In a surprising and intriguing choice, Ti West, the filmmaker behind the gritty and successful horror films X, Pearl, and the upcoming MaXXXine, is set to direct. West’s involvement suggests this adaptation will likely lean into the darker, ghostly elements of the source material, promising a version of A Christmas Carol unlike any seen before.
The Controversial Comeback
Depp, once one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars with franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean, saw his career derailed by years of public legal disputes. The fallout led to his dismissal from Warner Bros.’s Fantastic Beasts franchise in 2020, pushing him toward independent and non-US productions.
At the 2023 Cannes premiere of his French film Jeanne du Barry, Depp famously stated, “I don’t feel boycotted, because I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t feel much further need for Hollywood.” This new Paramount project signals a dramatic reversal, placing him firmly back in the world he claimed to have left behind.
A Second Chance for Scrooge and Star
The story of Ebenezer Scrooge—a man forced to confront his past to secure a future—serves as a powerful, almost meta-narrative for Depp’s own career. After testing the waters with the Lionsgate-backed thriller Day Drinker, this lead role in a Paramount tentpole is a definitive statement. The studio’s backing represents a major gamble and a potential redemption arc for the embattled star, one that audiences and the industry will be watching closely.
Image Referance: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/johnny-depp-returning-to-big-studio-movies-christmas-carol-1236408638/