Ian McKellen Says He “Fell in Love With” Johnny Depp While Filming ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol’
Actor Ian McKellen has shared warm words about Johnny Depp after the two worked together on the upcoming film Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.
Speaking to Variety at the New York premiere of The Christophers, McKellen said he truly enjoyed the experience. He praised Depp’s energy and attitude on set and spoke openly about their connection while filming.
“He’s in spankingly good form,” McKellen said. “Effervescent, funny, irreverent, serious — all at the same time. It was a bit of a love fest, really. I fell in love with him. He’s very obliging to his fellow actors. [There was] a wonderful feeling on the set.”
The new film is directed by Ti West and brings a fresh version of the well-known story. Depp plays Ebenezer Scrooge. This role is important for him, as it marks his return to a major Hollywood production after several years away.
#IanMcKellen says he “fell in love with” Johnny Depp after working together on the upcoming “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol”:
— Variety (@Variety) April 9, 2026
“He’s in spankingly good form. Effervescent, funny, irreverent, serious — all at the same time. It was a bit of a love fest, really. I fell in love with… pic.twitter.com/QkRnuV1KbK
Depp’s last big studio film was Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018. After that, he stepped away from the franchise following a legal dispute with a newspaper and ongoing issues involving his former wife Amber Heard. In 2022, a U.S. court case ended with a jury finding that both Depp and Heard had made defamatory statements about each other.
In recent years, Depp has focused on smaller international projects such as Minamata and Jeanne du Barry. He is also expected to appear in Day Drinker, directed by Marc Webb, alongside Penélope Cruz.
The cast of “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” also includes Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough and Tramell Tillman. McKellen appears in the film as Jacob Marley. His role was brief, but he said he still enjoyed it.
“It was only six days, but it was well worth it,” he said. “I play a ghost!”
At the same time, McKellen is promoting “The Christophers,” directed by Steven Soderbergh. In that film, he plays an older painter dealing with family and legacy. Talking about the role, he reflected on aging in a very direct way.
“I don’t really connect my life with his, except that he’s getting old — and I am old,” he said. “The future is uncertain- but no, it’s certain. I’m going to die. And that hovers over his life and kids’ expectations of what might happen when he dies. Will they or will they not inherit paintings they can sell? I just had a ball.”
It’s interesting to see how strongly McKellen speaks about Depp, especially after everything Depp has gone through in recent years. This could be a sign that Depp is finding his way back into big films and strong collaborations. At the same time, reactions from the public may still be mixed. What do you think about Depp’s return and McKellen’s comments? Share your thoughts in the comments.
