Johnny Depp is poised to make his first major studio film in eight years, with the actor in final talks to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Paramount Pictures’ “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.” In an intriguing creative pairing, horror auteur Ti West—the filmmaker behind “Pearl” and “Maxxxine”—will direct from a script by Nathaniel Halpern, known for his work on cerebral genre series “Tales From the Loop” and “Legion.”
Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie,” “Oblivion”) is set to co-star in the adaptation of Charles Dickens’ enduring holiday classic. Emma Watts is producing, with Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman serving as executive producers. Should negotiations close successfully, Paramount is eyeing a November 13, 2026 release date.
A Darker Twist on a Holiday Classic
The combination of West’s horror sensibility and Halpern’s psychological storytelling approach suggests this won’t be your grandmother’s Christmas Carol. West has built his reputation on atmospheric dread and period-set horror, most recently with his acclaimed X trilogy. Halpern’s work on “Legion,” meanwhile, demonstrated a gift for exploring fractured psyches and surreal narratives—potentially perfect for depicting Scrooge’s supernatural journey through past, present, and future.
Depp will play the iconic role of Ebenezer Scrooge, the misanthropic and miserly businessman in 19th century London who receives nocturnal visits from three spirits determined to save him from an afterlife of torment. The character has been a mainstay of holiday cinema for generations, including memorable interpretations by Alastair Sim in the classic 1951 adaptation, Bill Murray in 1988’s comedic “Scrooged,” Michael Caine alongside the Muppets in 1992, and Jim Carrey in Robert Zemeckis’ 2009 motion-capture version.
Interestingly, Depp won’t be the only actor tackling Scrooge in the coming years. “Nosferatu” director Robert Eggers is developing his own adaptation at Warner Bros., with Willem Dafoe circling the lead role—setting up a fascinating comparison between two distinctive filmmakers’ visions of Dickens’ morality tale.
A Significant Homecoming
The project marks Depp’s first role from a major Hollywood studio since 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” The intervening years have been tumultuous for the actor both professionally and personally.
Depp was removed from the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise after losing a 2020 libel case against British tabloid The Sun, which had labeled him a “wife beater” following domestic abuse allegations by his ex-wife Amber Heard. A subsequent 2022 U.S. defamation trial saw both Depp and Heard found to have defamed each other, a legally complex outcome that left both parties claiming partial victory.
Since then, Depp has worked primarily in independent cinema, starring in films like “Minamata” and “Jeanne du Barry.” He recently completed shooting the thriller “Day Drinker” for Lionsgate opposite Penélope Cruz, which is also expected to premiere in 2026.
Behind the Camera
Depp has also returned to directing. His first film as director since 1997’s “The Brave”—the biographical drama “Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness,” starring Riccardo Scamarcio, Stephen Graham, and Al Pacino—is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on November 7, 2025.
The “Modì” release will precede “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” by just over a year, meaning 2025-2026 represents a significant moment of professional resurgence for Depp, with major releases both as director and star.
Why This Casting Makes Sense
Despite the controversy that has surrounded him in recent years, Depp brings considerable strengths to the role of Scrooge. Throughout his career, he’s demonstrated a gift for playing tortured, isolated characters haunted by their pasts—from Edward Scissorhands to Sweeney Todd. His theatrical sensibility and willingness to fully commit to transformative performances align well with the demands of playing literature’s most famous miser.
The pairing with Ti West is particularly intriguing. West’s recent work has shown a director unafraid to let his actors lean into big, theatrical performances while maintaining tight control over tone and atmosphere. Mia Goth’s work in West’s X trilogy demonstrated how his direction can channel potentially over-the-top performances into something genuinely unsettling and emotionally resonant.
The Holiday Film Landscape
Paramount’s decision to release “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” in mid-November positions it to capture the lucrative holiday movie season while avoiding direct competition with Disney’s typical Thanksgiving releases and the Christmas Day blockbusters. The timing also allows the film to build word-of-mouth throughout the crucial holiday moviegoing period.
Holiday films remain reliably bankable for studios, with audiences consistently showing appetite for both traditional adaptations and fresh takes on seasonal classics. A darker, more psychologically complex version of “A Christmas Carol” could carve out distinct space in a market that typically leans toward family-friendly fare.
What This Means for Depp’s Career
Paramount’s willingness to greenlight a major release with Depp in the lead role signals a potential thawing in Hollywood’s stance toward the actor. While his legal battles generated intense public interest and debate, the years since have seen him gradually rebuild professional relationships, particularly in the independent film world.
Whether this represents a full return to A-list major studio work or a one-off project remains to be seen. Much will depend on the film’s reception—both critically and commercially. Paramount is clearly betting that West’s vision, Halpern’s screenplay, and Depp’s star power can combine to create something that transcends the surrounding controversy and delivers a compelling theatrical experience.
Looking Ahead
With “Day Drinker,” “Modì,” and now “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” all on the horizon, Johnny Depp is positioning himself for a significant moment of professional reinvention. Whether audiences are ready to separate the art from the artist, or whether they’re simply eager to see what a horror auteur can do with Dickens’ most famous ghost story, remains to be seen.
What’s certain is that a Ti West-directed, Johnny Depp-starring Christmas Carol promises to be unlike any adaptation that’s come before—and will be one of the most closely watched releases of holiday season 2026.
Nexus Point News first reported on the project.
Representatives for Depp and Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
