What's Inside?
- Johnny Depp takes center stage as Ebenezer Scrooge in Ti West’s bold and haunting reimagining of A Christmas Carol.
- Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol marks Depp’s biggest Hollywood comeback since his public legal battles and years away from major roles.
- Ti West’s visionary direction promises a darker, more supernatural take on Dickens’ classic story of redemption and second chances.
Johnny Depp’s Hollywood revival seems to be gaining momentum as he takes on one of literature’s most timeless characters. The Oscar-nominated actor is set to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a new reimagining of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Ti West. Paramount Pictures has officially slated the movie for a theatrical release on November 13, 2026 — marking Depp’s biggest Hollywood role in almost a decade.
Johnny Depp Takes the Lead in Ti West’s Reimagined ‘A Christmas Carol’
Johnny Depp’s casting as Scrooge is more than just another role — it’s a symbolic turn in his journey of professional and personal redemption. As reported by Deadline, the film is being produced by Emma Watts with a script penned by Tales from the Loop creator Nathaniel Halpern. Andrea Riseborough, the Oscar-nominated actor known for To Leslie, will co-star alongside Depp, adding further weight to the project’s already strong pedigree.
The story of Ebenezer Scrooge — a bitter old miser who is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve — has been retold countless times across film, stage, and television. From traditional interpretations to comedic and modernized takes like Ryan Reynolds’ Spirited, Dickens’ ghostly tale remains one of the most revisited narratives in cinematic history. Yet, what sets this adaptation apart is Ti West’s vision. Known for pushing creative limits in horror with Pearl, X, and MaXXXine, West is expected to infuse the film with a darker, more atmospheric edge.
West’s take has been 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.” That premise aligns strikingly with Depp’s own narrative in recent years — a man rebuilding his image and career after years in the public eye for reasons far removed from his artistry. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that he was drawn to the story of a man haunted by his past and ultimately redeemed through self-reflection.
Johnny Depp’s Hollywood Comeback is Gaining Real Momentum
Since his widely publicized 2022 defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp has been steadily working his way back into Hollywood’s fold. He returned to the big screen with Jeanne du Barry, a French-language period drama that opened the Cannes Film Festival to a standing ovation. He later directed Modi: Three Days on the Wings of Madness, a biopic on artist Amedeo Modigliani. Yet both projects were primarily European productions. Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol marks his first major American studio film since Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018.
In addition to Ebenezer, Depp recently wrapped Day Drinker for Lionsgate, an action thriller directed by Marc Webb. The film reunites him with Penélope Cruz, his Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides co-star. Webb’s movie follows a cruise ship bartender who becomes entangled with a mysterious woman — and together, they uncover a dangerous criminal web. The project has been described as a stylish, character-driven thriller that further signals Depp’s return to high-profile Hollywood work.
Depp’s career trajectory now appears to be climbing back to the heights that once made him one of the most bankable stars in the world. There’s even renewed talk of him possibly reprising his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. While nothing has been confirmed, producer Jerry Bruckheimer hinted in August 2025, “If Depp likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it. It’s all about what’s on the page, as we all know.”
As Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol heads toward its 2026 release, anticipation is already building around how Ti West will reinterpret this classic tale — and how Johnny Depp will breathe new life into a role that mirrors his own path of reinvention.
If the film succeeds, it won’t just mark a creative triumph for Ti West. It could also signal the full-circle moment in Depp’s long and tumultuous Hollywood journey — from global superstar to controversy and, now, redemption on the silver screen.
