After years of controversy, lost studio roles, and an extraordinarily messy series of public legal battles, is Johnny Depp officially uncanceled—and off Hollywood’s cultural blacklist? His casting as the lead of Paramount Pictures’ “Ebenezer” certainly suggests the industry believes his exile is over.
Paramount has unveiled a new poster for the upcoming Ti West reimagining of “A Christmas Carol,” with Depp starring as Ebenezer Scrooge. The fresh artwork also suggests a first-look teaser may not be far behind, although the studio has not yet announced when footage will arrive.
The official tease is simple and pointed: “This November, Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The name you know, the story you don’t.”
That setup suggests West isn’t interested in delivering a straightforward retelling of Dickens’ classic ghost story. Best known for films like “X,” “Pearl,” and “MaXXXine,” the filmmaker has built his reputation on unnerving mood, stylized dread, and characters unraveling under pressure, all of which could make him a fascinating fit for one of literature’s most enduring supernatural tales.
The film also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, Tramell Tillman, and Ian McKellen.
Nathaniel Halpern wrote the screenplay. His television credits include “Tales From The Loop,” “Legion,” and “The Killing,” giving him a background in psychologically charged genre storytelling that should pair naturally with West’s darker sensibilities. Emma Watts produces, and West also serves as an executive producer alongside David Reid, Adam Bohling, Stephen Deuters, Jason Forman, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary. The film is a Paramount Pictures presentation in association with Domain Entertainment and a Wattsco/IN.2 Films production.
“A Christmas Carol” has been adapted so many times that any new version has to justify its existence almost immediately, and pairing Depp with West at least gives this one an intriguing angle. There’s an inherent familiarity to Scrooge and his journey through greed, regret, and redemption, but the “story you don’t” line hints that this may be less a faithful holiday chestnut than a darker, more revisionist spin on the material.
“Ebenezer” opens only in theaters on November 13, 2026. Check out the new poster below.
Edward Davis is a senior film journalist and longtime contributor to The Playlist. Davis covers the full breadth of cinema — from major studio releases to independent and international film.
