Johnny Depp is stepping back into the spotlight — and straight into the shadows — as he prepares to play Ebenezer Scrooge in a chilling new version of “A Christmas Carol.” The film, titled “Ebenezer,” is being developed by Paramount Pictures with horror mastermind Ti West directing.
Sources say Depp is in final talks to take the lead, reimagining the classic Dickens tale through a darker, more supernatural lens. Andrea Riseborough will co-star, while Emma Watts produces alongside executive producers Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman.
View this post on Instagram
In this twisted holiday retelling, Scrooge — the miserly businessman who despises joy and generosity — is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, each forcing him to confront his sins before it’s too late. Set against the eerie backdrop of 19th-century London, Depp’s version promises to blend gothic horror with heart-stopping redemption.
The character of Scrooge has been a holiday favourite for generations, portrayed by legends like Alastair Sim in 1951, Bill Murray in “Scrooged” (1988), Michael Caine in “A Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992), and Jim Carrey in the 2009 animated version.
But with Ti West’s horror flair and Depp’s dark charisma, this could be the most haunting take yet — a Christmas story guaranteed to send chills down your spine when it hits theaters on November 13, 2026.
