LDT “🎬 Johnny Depp Returns to Major Studio Films — to Play Scrooge in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol”
HOLLYWOOD, CA — Johnny Depp is officially making his long-awaited return to big studio filmmaking. The Oscar-nominated actor is in final talks to headline Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a dark, stylish new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s timeless holiday classic, produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Ti West (X, Pearl).
The film will reimagine the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge with a bold, psychological twist — described by insiders as “a gothic redemption story with the heart of a fairy tale and the edge of a thriller.” Depp is set to portray a complex, emotionally tormented version of Scrooge, in what many are already calling his most intriguing role in years.
“Johnny’s ability to bring both darkness and humanity to a character is unmatched,” a Paramount executive told The Hollywood Reporter. “This project gives him space to reinvent one of literature’s most iconic figures while returning to the scale and storytelling audiences love him for.”
The project also marks Depp’s first major collaboration with a major studio since his years-long legal and personal battles sidelined him from blockbuster productions. Insiders say the film’s tone will draw inspiration from Sweeney Todd and Sleepy Hollow — both roles that highlighted Depp’s gift for blending gothic imagery with heart.
Director Ti West’s involvement signals a distinct stylistic vision: known for his haunting visuals and meticulous atmosphere, West is reportedly bringing a Victorian-meets-modern aesthetic, pairing the moral core of Dickens’s tale with the visual punch of a high-concept fantasy film.
Production is expected to begin in early 2026, with release targeted for the 2026 holiday season. Paramount aims to position Ebenezer as both a box-office event and a prestige contender, setting up a major awards push for Depp’s performance.
For Depp, who recently completed his directorial effort Modì — a biopic on artist Amedeo Modigliani starring Al Pacino — the project signals not just a comeback, but a full-circle return to the grandeur of Hollywood storytelling.
“I’ve always loved stories of transformation,” Depp said in a recent interview. “Scrooge is the ultimate symbol of that — of finding humanity again.”
From swashbuckler to storyteller, Depp seems ready to remind audiences why his name once meant cinematic magic.
