Johnny Depp is stepping back into the limelight, and this time he’s taking a fresh take on on one of literature’s most famous characters in Ebenezer.
The actor, 63, stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in the upcoming adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The film marks Depp’s first major studio project in seven years, following his last studio release in 2019.
In an exclusive interview at New York screening on November 1, Depp discussed his approach to playing the notoriously bitter miser. Rather than simply portraying Scrooge as a cruel and miserable man, the actor wanted to understand what made him that way.
“Where’s the in? How do you find your way in and give him a history and a reason why he is this supposed kind of just horrific miser and all that … So I, I was more interested in finding out why he was how he was.” Depp explained.
He also described his version of Scrooge as someone who has withdrawn from the world, saying the character is “trying to make himself invisible to the world.”
The transformation begins with the film’s wardrobe, which Depp described as a kind of “suit of armor” that helped him really step into the character.
Ebenezer features an ensemble cast, including Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit. Watch the trailer below.
Depp’s return to a major studio production follows several years away from Hollywood amid his highly publicized legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard, which concluded with a settlement in December 2022.
Now, the actor is taking on a familiar literary figure with a new interpretation. Ebenezer is set to arrive exclusively in theaters on November 13, 2026.
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