After years away from major studio productions, Johnny Depp is officially making his big Hollywood comeback — and it’s in one of literature’s most enduring holiday stories. Depp will star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a fresh, darkly atmospheric take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale of redemption and ghosts.

Not in the mood to read? Watch the video here.

Produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ti West (X, Pearl), Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is set to arrive in theatres on November 13, 2026. Screenwriter Nathaniel Halpern (Tales from the Loop) penned the script, promising a version that blends the moral gravitas of Dickens’ story with eerie, cinematic flair.

According to Paramount, the film will follow “one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present, and future — and fight for a second chance.” With West at the helm, fans can expect a moody, gothic London, spectral encounters, and a more psychological take on Scrooge’s haunting transformation.

For Depp, the role of Scrooge marks a powerful new chapter in his career. The Oscar-nominated actor, known for his transformative performances in Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sweeney Todd, brings both gravitas and eccentricity to the miserly character.

Industry watchers are already drawing parallels between this role and Depp’s past work with Tim Burton — both known for their darkly whimsical storytelling. While Ebenezer is not a Burton project, it carries similar stylistic DNA: rich in atmosphere, tinged with melancholy, and laced with humanity beneath the horror.

Director Ti West has described his vision as “a ghost story first, and a redemption story second.” That sentiment sets the tone for what could be one of the most chilling adaptations yet.
Rather than focusing on the cozy, candlelit nostalgia seen in previous renditions, Ebenezer aims to explore the psychological terror of being haunted by one’s own life choices — a concept that feels timeless and timely.

Co-starring Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie, Mandy) in an undisclosed role, the film’s ensemble promises depth and emotional intensity. The project has already drawn interest from fans of West’s horror aesthetic, who are eager to see how Dickens’ Christmas spirits might manifest under his direction.

This film also marks Depp’s first major studio feature since his lengthy and highly publicized defamation trial in 2022. While he recently appeared in Jeanne du Barry (2023), a French historical drama that premiered at Cannes, Ebenezer is his first return to big-budget American filmmaking in several years.

Insiders view the project as a major comeback moment for Depp, whose career has been in flux since his legal battles. By taking on a role that fuses darkness, redemption, and classic literature, he may be positioning himself for a prestige return — just in time for awards season buzz in late 2026.

With its planned holiday season release, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is poised to become a cinematic event — a mix of supernatural spectacle, emotional storytelling, and vintage Dickensian grit.
Fans can expect:

• A visually rich depiction of Victorian London

• Stylized ghost sequences with horror overtones

• A haunting original score

• And, of course, Depp’s signature intensity in the role of Scrooge

Johnny Depp’s casting as Ebenezer Scrooge feels like the perfect collision of actor and character — both men haunted by their pasts, both seeking redemption in the eyes of the public. With Ti West steering the film toward a darker, more gothic retelling, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol may very well breathe new life into a story we thought we already knew.

As the holidays of 2026 approach, moviegoers might just find themselves asking: Can a ghost story still warm the heart?