Johnny Depp is officially back in the studio spotlight.
Under the new leadership of Skydance’s David Ellison, Paramount Pictures is set to produce Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, with Depp starring as the infamous miser in a bold new take on the Charles Dickens classic.
Depp’s returns as Ebenezer Scrooge
According to THR, Paramount is in final negotiations to pick up the project, which will be directed by horror filmmaker Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine). The studio is eyeing a November 13, 2026 release date.
Andrea Riseborough joins Depp in the cast, with the script written by Nathaniel Halpern. The film is described as “a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens’ London, following one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present, and future and fight for a second chance.”
THR makes a point of stating in the article:
It’s the ghost from Hollywood’s Christmas past as Johnny Depp has returned in his biggest movie project yet since being ostracized during a contentious and ugly defamation lawsuit with ex-wife Amber Heard.
Paramount Pictures, under the new leadership of David Ellison, is in final negotiations to pick up a new take on Charles Dickens’ oft-adapted A Christmas Carol.
From Hollywood’s Outcast to Redemption
The project marks Depp’s biggest studio comeback since being dropped from major franchises following his legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard. Once one of the world’s highest-paid and most bankable stars thanks to Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Depp’s Hollywood career hit pause after the public defamation suits in both the U.S. and U.K.
After being fired from Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts in 2020, Depp turned to European cinema, starring in Jeanne du Barry, which premiered at Cannes in 2023.
What’s Next for Depp
In addition to Ebenezer, Depp recently wrapped Day Drinker for Lionsgate, a thriller set for release in 2026.
Rumors continue to swirl that Disney could also bring Depp back as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6, signaling a full-scale Hollywood comeback that once seemed impossible. Longtime producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed Depp is open for a return.
