Paramount Pictures has debuted the first trailer for Ebenezer, a dark reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic tale. The film stars Johnny Depp as the titular Scrooge and was unveiled during a surprise appearance by the actor at San Diego Comic-Con.
Paramount's bet on Johnny Depp's box office draw
The release of the Ebenezer trailer represents a significant strategic move by Paramount Pictures to re-establish Johnny Depp as a viable lead in major American cinema. According to the report, the actor made a surprise in-character appearance at the convention, visiting the "Ebenezer's Office" activation and participating in a panel in Hall H. This high-profile rollout suggests the studio is confident that Depp's star power remains intact despite years of professional volatility.
In the footage, Johnny Depp's version of Scrooge is depicted as a tormented figure who spreads misery through snow-covered streets. The trailer concludes with a meta-commentary on the actor's own career, with Depp stating as Scrooge, "It's good to be back." This line serves as both a character beat and a public signal of his return to the Hollywood mainstream.
Ti West applies the horror of Pearl and MaXXXine to Dickens
Director Ti West, who previously gained critical acclaim for the horror films Pearl and MaXXXine, is bringing a distinct genre sensibility to this adaptation. As reported by the source, West told audiences at CinemaCon that his early exposure to the horror genre was influenced by previous adaptations of A Christmas Carol. This explains the film's shift toward a darker, more unsettling atmosphere than traditional versions of the story.
The trailer highlights this horror influence through the depiction of "terrifying spirits" that haunt the protagonist. By leaning into the supernatural dread of the original novella, Ti West is positioning Ebenezer not as a family-friendly holiday movie, but as a psychological exploration of guilt and fear, aligning the project with the director's established body of work.
Ian McKellen and Daisy Ridley anchor the supernatural cast
The production features a high-profile ensemble cast that blends veteran stage presence with modern movie stars . Ian McKellen takes on the role of Jacob Marley, while the ghosts are played by Andrea Riseborough (Christmas Past), Tramell Tillman (Christmas Present), and Daisy Ridley (Christmas Yet to Come). This casting suggests a production with significant scale and artistic ambition.
Supporting roles are filled by a diverse group of actors, including Rupert Grint, Sam Claflin, Arthur Conti, and Ellie Bamber. The screenplay, adapted by Nathaniel Halpern, appears to maintain the core structure of the Dickens story while allowing the cast to lean into the darker tones requested by Ti West.
The gap since the 2022 defamation trial
This project marks the first major Hollywood role for Johnny Depp since his 2022 defamation trial against his former wife, Amber Heard. The actor's path back to the US studio system has been fragmented; he was famously removed from the Fantastic Beasts franchise in 2018, where Warner Bros. replaced him with Mads Mikkelsen for The Secrets of Dumbledore.
In the intervening years, Johnny Depp shifted his focus toward international cinema and independent projects. He appeared in Minamata and Jeanne du Barry, and stepped behind the camera to direct the indie film Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness. The transition back to a Paramount Pictures production indicates a potential thawing of the industry's hesitation to cast him in tentpole roles.
The missing release date for Ebenezer
While the trailer has generated significant buzz, several key details remain unverified. Most notably, the report does not mention a specific release date, leaving it unclear if Paramount Pictures intends for Ebenezer to be a winter holiday release or a different seasonal launch.
Additionally, the source provides no information regarding the film's runtime or whether it will have a traditional theatrical window or a streaming-first debut. While the trailer offers a glimpse of the aesthetic, the full extent of Ti West's "dark reimagining" remains to be seen until more footage or a final cut is revealed.
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