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Credit: DisneyRead between the lines.
Johnny Depp’s relationship with the public has been anything but straightforward over the past several years. Once one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Depp found his reputation reshaped by highly publicized legal battles that played out not just in courtrooms, but across social media feeds, news cycles, and pop culture discourse at large.
The scrutiny surrounding his personal life and legal battles with Amber Heard led to studios distancing themselves and audiences sharply divided, with every career move dissected through the lens of controversy rather than creativity. His prominent role as Captain Jack Sparrow in The Walt Disney Company’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was also dismantled.
Since the conclusion of those trials, Depp’s standing has remained complicated. While some fans have rallied behind him and championed his return to entertainment projects, others remain skeptical. Against that backdrop, any major role Depp takes on now carries added weight—particularly when it involves a beloved classic with deep cultural roots.
That’s precisely the case with Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless story that has quietly assembled an attention-grabbing cast.
Depp is set to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in the film, which is being directed by Ti West and is said to lean into a darker, more atmospheric interpretation of the familiar holiday tale. The project has now added Rupert Grint and Daisy Ridley to its ensemble, further elevating interest in the production, per Deadline.
Grint, best known for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, is reportedly playing Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s long-suffering but kind-hearted employee, while Ridley joins the film in an as-yet-undisclosed role.
They’re joined by an expanding A-list and award-nominated cast that includes Andrea Riseborough, Sir Ian McKellen, Tramell Tillman, Sam Claflin, Charlie Murphy, Arthur Conti, and Ellie Bamber, signaling a prestige-heavy approach to Dickens’ ghostly morality tale.
With Paramount Pictures targeting a November 13, 2026, release, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is shaping up to be one of the more unconventional takes on the story in recent memory. For Depp, it represents another step in his gradual reemergence into mainstream filmmaking; for audiences, it’s a reminder that even the most familiar Christmas stories can take on a very different tone depending on who’s telling them—and who’s at the center of the hauntings.
This big return to the Hollywood space is notable considering that two years ago, Depp spoke out about how much he enjoyed living outside the public eye.
Speaking to Somerset Life in 2023, the actor detailed why he has chosen to spend his time on his 850-acre, £13 million mansion in the south of England. Depp said: “I just love places with character. British people are cool and will greet you as if you are a neighbour — without going over the top. I like going to places, seeing things and meeting people — but I’m not the great extrovert that people think.”
The film star added, “In truth, I’m quite a shy person. That’s one of the great things about Britain, and especially Somerset. I can just be me — and that’s nice. I can go into shops without being surrounded by people wanting selfies. I don’t mind that up to a point, but sometimes it gets a little too crowded.”
The involvement of the A-list cast in Paramount’s Ebenezer movie is notable as it shows that Hollywood is warming up and showing up to Johnny Depp. During and following the trials, Depp has not made a major Hollywood movie alone or with an A-list ensemble cast.
Depp’s most recent work includes 2020’s Minamata, 2023’s Jeanne du Barry, 2024’s Johnny Puff: Secret Mission, and Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, which he directed and produced, as well as next year’s Day Drinker (2026).
The fact that the Ebenezer cast is so stacked and is being distributed by Paramount Pictures suggests that the industry is welcoming back Johnny Depp, which could send a signal to The Walt Disney Company and turn those Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean return rumors into reality.
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