Johnny Depp is set to make a major return to the big screen, leading director Ti West’s upcoming gothic adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, ‘A Christmas Carol’.
The new film, titled ‘Ebeneezer: A Christmas Carol’, will be set in Victorian London, returning to the original 19th-century atmosphere of Dickens’ novel.
According to Deadline, the story will place greater emphasis on the supernatural horror of Scrooge’s ghostly encounters, aligning with West’s signature style.
Depp will take on the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge, the cold-hearted miser whose life is transformed by visits from three spirits on Christmas Eve. He will be joined by Andrea Riseborough (Birdman), with the film slated for a November 13, 2026 release via Paramount Pictures.
Ti West, best known for his acclaimed horror trilogy: ‘X’ (2022), ‘Pearl’ (2022) and ‘MaXXXine’ (2024), is expected to bring a haunting and psychological edge to the festive fable.
Each of his previous films, starring Mia Goth, earned cult status for their chilling blend of atmosphere and character study. For Depp, the project marks what could be his most significant studio role in years.
The actor’s Hollywood career slowed after a series of highly publicised legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard, which saw him dropped from major franchises including Fantastic Beasts.
However, following his 2022 defamation victory in a Virginia court, where the jury found that Heard’s claims of abuse were “false” and made with “actual malice”, Depp has gradually returned to the spotlight.
Earlier this year, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer hinted that Depp might reprise his legendary role as Captain Jack Sparrow in future installments of the franchise.
With Ebeneezer, Ti West and Johnny Depp appear poised to reinvent Dickens’ classic for a new generation, not as a cosy Christmas tale, but as a spectral, gothic redemption story steeped in atmosphere, darkness and resurrection.
