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Johnny Depp (63) Hits the Red Carpet for ‘Ebenezer’ as Ti West’s Dark ‘A Christmas Carol’ Nears Its Debut

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Every holiday season brings a new version of Dickens’ most famous ghost story, but few arrive with this much baggage and buzz. Johnny Depp’s return to a major studio lead role as Ebenezer Scrooge has been one of the most talked-about stories of the fall movie calendar. Now the Johnny Depp ‘Ebenezer’ red carpet moment in New York has put the film back at the center of the conversation.

Paramount’s ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol’ is directed by Ti West, the filmmaker behind ‘X,’ ‘Pearl’ and ‘MaXXXine,’ with a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern. It’s billed as a dark, supernatural reimagining of the Charles Dickens classic, under the tagline “The name you know. The story you don’t.” The film opens in theaters on November 13.

On November 1, Depp attended a special screening of the film in New York City, kicking off the final stretch of promotion with less than 2 weeks to go before opening day. Photos from the event show him in a dark suit, a brown fedora and tinted glasses, posing in front of a red-and-black backdrop for the film. The look fits the film’s moody, gothic marketing.

The studio’s account described the evening as a night of holiday spirit(s), and said the screening was attended by Depp, ‘Severance’ standout Tramell Tillman, Andrea Riseborough and West. It was a rare chance to see much of the film’s core creative team together before release.

The stakes around this film are unusually high for Depp. It marks his return to a major Hollywood lead after an eight-year gap, and it’s his first wide release since 2018’s ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.’ In between, he appeared in the French-language film ‘Jeanne du Barry’ and directed ‘Modi.’

Variety has framed ‘Ebenezer’ as his first major Hollywood film since his lengthy, publicized legal fight with Amber Heard. That backdrop has made the promotional campaign feel like an event, with Paramount positioning the movie as a holiday tentpole at the start of the Christmas season.

The first trailer, which arrived on July 24, makes clear this is not a cozy retelling. It shows Depp as a balding, snowball-lobbing Scrooge tormented by terrifying spirits, and it leans into horror touches, including a homage to Depp’s first movie role in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’ UPI described the film as providing an origin story for Scrooge, giving the miser a bit more history than usual.

Depp also made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, walking into Hall H in full Scrooge costume to introduce the trailer. The crowd responded with a warm welcome and applause. West has said classic adaptations of ‘A Christmas Carol’ were among his earliest introductions to the horror genre, which helps explain the film’s darker tone.

The ensemble is one of the film’s biggest selling points. Ian McKellen plays Jacob Marley, Andrea Riseborough is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman is the Ghost of Christmas Present and Daisy Ridley is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s put-upon employee.

The cast also includes Sam Claflin, Charlie Murphy, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber and Henry Lloyd-Hughes. The movie filmed in Dublin and London in early 2026, and it entered post-production over the summer. That timeline has kept the film on track for its November date.

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No critical reviews have been widely reported yet, so the movie’s reception remains an open question. Early reaction to the marketing has been intense, though, with plenty of fans praising the film’s darker approach and others waiting to see whether the tone works over a full feature. Depp has long been associated with offbeat, eccentric characters, and Scrooge feels like a natural fit.

The big test will be how audiences respond when the film lands in theaters on November 13. A streaming release hasn’t been announced, so the theatrical run will be the main way to see it at first. If the film connects, it could become a fresh holiday tradition for horror fans and Dickens devotees alike.

Are you excited to see Johnny Depp take on Ebenezer Scrooge in this darker adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

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