Johnny Depp is officially making his grand return to mainstream Hollywood, and he is doing it with a chilling twist. In the newly released trailer for Paramount’s supernatural revenge thriller Ebenezer, the actor undergoes a haunting transformation into a bitter, unrecognizable version of Charles Dickens’ iconic miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. Directed by horror visionary Ti West, the film reimagines the classic A Christmas Carol through a dark and gothic lens, trading holiday cheer for a descent into terror. The film, which is slated for a November 13 release, promises a unique experience with the tagline, “The name you know, the story you don’t.”
The footage wastes no time setting a grim tone as we see Depp’s Scrooge coldly rejecting charity and alienating his family before the supernatural chaos ensues. The horror kicks off when the spectral apparition of his late business partner, Jacob Marley—played by the legendary Ian McKellen—arrives to warn him of the three spirits destined to haunt his Christmas Eve. Despite the dark atmosphere, the trailer balances the dread with flashes of signature dark comedy. In one standout moment, a cynical Scrooge asks if he can just meet all three spirits at once to get the ordeal over with, while another scene shows him playfully throwing snowballs at a couple, proving that even a grumpy miser has a sense of humor.
Depp’s performance seems to anchor the film, starting with a meta nod to the audience as he looks directly into the camera and remarks, “It’s good to be back.” The journey tracks his transformation from a man buried alive—literally, in one disturbing sequence—to someone desperately embracing a new lease on life. The star-studded ensemble cast is equally impressive, featuring Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Rupert Grint as the beleaguered Bob Cratchit. Daisy Ridley, Sam Claflin, Charlie Murphy, Arthur Conti, and Ellie Bamber also join the roster in this screenplay adapted by Nathaniel Halpern.
This project marks a significant milestone for Depp, serving as his first major mainstream Hollywood role since 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Having focused on international productions and the period drama Jeanne du Barry in recent years, fans are eager to see the actor back on the big screen in a role that promises both intense drama and supernatural spectacle. With Ti West at the helm, Ebenezer is shaping up to be a must-watch cinematic event this November.