Johnny Depp has officially stepped back into blockbuster filmmaking with the release of the first trailer for Paramount Pictures’ Ebenezer, a dark reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Directed by Ti West, the film casts Depp as the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge in what marks his first major Hollywood studio role since his widely publicized legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.
The first trailer offers a haunting glimpse into West’s gothic interpretation of the beloved holiday classic. Depp’s Scrooge is tormented by the supernatural spirits of Christmas as they force him to confront the mistakes and regrets that have defined his life. Between the ghostly encounters, the notoriously ill-tempered miser is seen spreading misery across snow-covered Victorian streets, hurling snowballs at unsuspecting passersby and dismissing the festive spirit with his trademark bitterness. Rather than presenting a traditional Christmas tale, the footage leans heavily into psychological horror, eerie imagery, and unsettling atmosphere—an approach that aligns with West’s acclaimed work on X, Pearl, and MaXXXine.
The trailer arrives just hours after Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, where Paramount transformed part of the Gaslamp Quarter into a Victorian-style “Scrooge & Marley” storefront to promote the film. Fans gathered long before the scheduled activation, only to be greeted by Christmas carolers before Depp emerged in full Ebenezer Scrooge costume, complete with the character’s signature black overcoat and top hat. Remaining entirely in character, the actor joked with fans and even interacted with cosplayers dressed as some of his most famous roles, including Captain Jack Sparrow and the Mad Hatter.
Depp later appeared in Hall H, still dressed as Scrooge, to help director Ti West unveil the trailer. Staying true to the character’s curmudgeonly personality, he slowly surveyed the audience before asking, “Have you all no lives?” He then tossed handfuls of candy into the crowd before introducing the footage, creating one of the convention’s most talked-about promotional moments.
Ebenezer represents an important milestone in Depp’s return to mainstream Hollywood. Since departing the Fantastic Beasts franchise, where he was replaced as Gellert Grindelwald before Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the actor has largely focused on international and independent productions, including Jeanne du Barry and the self-directed Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness. His casting in Lionsgate’s upcoming thriller Day Drinker alongside Penélope Cruz and Madelyn Cline signaled a renewed presence in studio filmmaking, with Ebenezer now becoming his highest-profile Hollywood release in years.
Speaking about the role earlier this year during Paramount’s CinemaCon presentation, Depp described portraying Scrooge as a deeply personal experience.
“It really has been an extraordinary privilege,” he said, adding that A Christmas Carol is a story he has “been obsessed with since I was a little child.”
Director Ti West has also spoken about his fascination with Dickens’ classic, revealing that some of the earliest adaptations of A Christmas Carol served as his introduction to horror cinema. That influence is clearly visible throughout the trailer, which blends supernatural terror with the emotional themes of redemption that have made Dickens’ story endure for generations.
Joining Depp is an ensemble cast that includes Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Grint, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Ian McKellen, Tramell Tillman, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, and Charlie Murphy. Together, they bring to life a fresh interpretation of one of literature’s most enduring stories while embracing the darker visual style that has become synonymous with West’s filmmaking.
With its atmospheric first trailer and Comic-Con debut generating early buzz, Ebenezer is shaping up to be one of Paramount’s most distinctive holiday releases in recent years. Whether audiences embrace its horror-infused take on Dickens’ timeless tale remains to be seen, but the film also marks a significant new chapter in Johnny Depp’s career as he returns to the forefront of major Hollywood studio productions. It arrives exclusively in theaters on November 13.
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