Johnny Depp Leads Ti West’s Dark Reimagining “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” at Paramount

Hollywood just dropped some serious Scrooge-y news that’s about to shake up your holiday movie plans. Johnny Depp—yes, that Johnny Depp—is reportedly in final negotiations to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Paramount Pictures’ upcoming “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.” And if that wasn’t enough, horror maestro Ti West is directing. This is decidedly not your grandma’s cozy Christmas movie.

The Johnny Depp Comeback

Let’s note that this would be Depp’s first major studio role since 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” That’s seven years of relative Hollywood silence following his highly publicized legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard. The defamation trial in 2022, which Depp won, seemed to crack open the door for his return to mainstream cinema. Now, with “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” slated for a November 13, 2026 release, it looks like that door may be swinging wide open.

The timing is almost perfect. Depp recently wrapped production on Lionsgate’s thriller “Day Drinker” opposite Penélope Cruz, so he’s clearly shaking off the rust and getting back into the swing of things. Playing Scrooge? Johnny Depp could easily do it. We’re talking about a guy who turned Captain Jack Sparrow into a cultural phenomenon and made us believe a man with scissors for hands could be romantic. Ebenezer Scrooge is basically begging for the Depp treatment—quirky, dark, and utterly mesmerizing.

Ti West Brings the Horror to Christmas

Here’s where the plot thickens. Ti West, the mind behind the A24 horror trilogy (“X,” “Pearl,” and “MaXXXine,”) is stepping up to direct this reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. According to Deadline, this version promises to be “a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens’ London,” following one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present, and future.

West’s horror projects make this casting choice bold. West knows how to build up dread and deliver visceral storytelling. This could transform the familiar “A Christmas Carol” narrative into something very different. Pair that with Depp’s talent for bringing eccentric characters to life, and you’ve got a recipe for something either totally brilliant or spectacularly weird. Or perhaps both.

Andrea Riseborough Joins the Cast

Andrea Riseborough, who earned an Oscar nomination for her stunning performance in “To Leslie,” has also signed on for the project. While details about her role remain under wraps, having someone of her caliber alongside Depp signals that Paramount isn’t messing around with this one. Riseborough brings gravitas and emotional depth to every role she touches, which should balance out the potentially gonzo energy Depp could bring to Scrooge.

But Wait—There’s Competition

In an interesting twist: Johnny Depp isn’t the only actor vying to play literature’s most famous miser. Willem Dafoe is reportedly in line to portray Scrooge in Robert Eggers’ “A Christmas Carol” adaptation for Warner Brothers. Eggers, fresh off the success of “Nosferatu,” brings his own brand of artful, gothic filmmaking to the table. So we’re essentially getting dueling Scrooge movies from two of Hollywood’s most visually distinctive directors.

This isn’t just competition—it’s a full-blown Christmas Carol showdown. Will you root for Depp’s potentially unhinged take under Ti West’s horror lens? Or will the Dafoe version, guided by Eggers’ meticulous period craftsmanship, win you over? We’re getting two wildly different interpretations of the same story, and both look crazy and creepily good.

Why This Role Makes Perfect Sense for Johnny Depp

The role of Ebenezer Scrooge is tailor-made for Depp’s wheelhouse. Throughout his career, Depp has specialized in playing characters who are equal parts off-putting and fascinating—think Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, the Mad Hatter, and of course, Raoul Duke. Scrooge, the bitter old miser who’s haunted by ghosts and then forced to confront his own cruelty, fits perfectly into Johnny Depp’s roles of misfits and oddballs.

Plus, Scrooge and Depp are getting redemption after their own public struggles. Whether intentional or not, the parallels are there. Scrooge gets a second chance after being visited by supernatural forces; Depp is getting a second chance after years in Hollywood purgatory. Art imitating life? Maybe. Good casting? Definitely.

What We Know About “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol”

The screenplay comes from Nathaniel Halpern, creator of Amazon’s “Tales from the Loop,” which tells us this adaptation will lean into the fantastical and emotional. Emma Watts is producing, with Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman executive producing. Paramount is clearly investing heavily in this project, having already secured that prime November 2026 release date—right in time for awards season and the lucrative holiday box office window.

Johnny Depp’s Hollywood Return

Whether or not “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” becomes the definitive Johnny Depp comeback vehicle, one thing is clear: Hollywood is ready to work with him again. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has even hinted that Depp might return as Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean 6,” saying he believes Depp would be interested. The industry seems to be moving past the controversies that sidelined his career, for better or worse.

There’s absolutely no denying that Depp is a compelling screen presence. When he’s firing on all cylinders, he’s magnetic. And playing Scrooge under Ti West’s direction? That could be the perfect storm of talent meeting material.

A Few Final Thoughts

Recap: Johnny Depp playing Ebenezer Scrooge in a horror-tinged “A Christmas Carol” directed by Ti West, competing against Willem Dafoe in Robert Eggers’ version. 2026 is going to be the year of the Scrooge! We’re not too mad (or miserly) about it.

This casting feels risky, ambitious, and—most importantly—interesting. Will it work? Who knows. But in an era of safe sequels and predictable franchises, a Johnny Depp-led, Ti West-directed Christmas Carol is exactly the kind of swing-for-the-fences project we need. Whether it’s a masterpiece or a beautiful disaster, it’s going to be must-see cinema.

Mark your calendars for Friday, November 13, 2026. Because if nothing else, this “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” should be a Bah Humbug of a conversation starter.