Johnny Depp to Play Mean-Spirited Grandfather in 'A Christmas Carol' Adaptation: Everything We Know About the Film

He despises joy, loathes Christmas, and can't stand anyone around him. But one night, spirits arrive and turn his entire world upside down.

That's exactly the kind of role the legendary actor chose next. Depp will play literature's most famous miser—Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

What's the Movie About and Who's Making It?

Paramount is developing the adaptation titled "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol."

Starring the "Pirates of the Caribbean" lead. The role of a grim character who undergoes a mystical transformation fits him perfectly. Playing something like this is right in his wheelhouse—just think of "Edward Scissorhands" or the Mad Hatter from "Alice in Wonderland."

The director is Ti West. He can confidently be called a master of modern horror. You might not know his name, but you've definitely heard about the buzzy trilogy "X," "Pearl," and "MaXXXine." The films were pretty intense, so I'm thinking under his guidance, this won't be a sweet little fairy tale.

Joining Depp on screen is Andrea Riseborough. The film's already got a release date—November 13, 2026, reports Deadline.

Overall, the creators describe the project as a "gripping ghost story."
Close-up of actor Johnny Depp's face wearing a hat, cartoon grandpa in nightgown on the right
Johnny Depp and Ebenezer Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol" animation
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If they can match even half the quality of the 2009 animated film where Jim Carrey voiced Ebenezer—that'd be solid, because that movie was really good: appropriately creepy (partly thanks to the 3D animation) and just preachy enough.

Battle of the Scrooges: Depp vs. Dafoe?

Funny enough, almost simultaneously with the film announcement, we learned that Warner Bros. is also prepping their own version of "A Christmas Carol."

Robert Eggers (director of "The Lighthouse," "Nosferatu") will helm it, and Willem Dafoe is being considered for the lead.

Honestly, I don't even know who to root for. Both West and Eggers are uniquely brilliant in the genre, and Depp and Dafoe share that same dark charisma. Looks like we're waiting for both films—only die-hard fans will have to pick sides.

Depp's Big Comeback?

For Johnny, this role is probably one of the biggest career moments in recent years.

After his 2022 trial with Amber Heard, which he won by the way, Hollywood started "allowing" the actor to work again.

In recent years, Depp hasn't appeared in films often, but when he does, he picks interesting projects.

In 2023, Depp played King Louis XV in "Jeanne du Barry." Audiences welcomed the film warmly (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), but critics were tougher (just 48%)—his tarnished reputation probably played a role.

Most criticism targeted the superficial script, though the lavish costumes, sets, and story itself got praise.

In 2020, Depp played photographer Eugene Smith, who documented the tragedy in Minamata, Japan, where residents were poisoned by mercury. Same pattern again: 91% from audiences and 78% from critics.
Trailer for "Minamata" starring Johnny Depp
Many reviewers wrote that it's one of Depp's best and most mature roles in recent years, but the film itself, in their opinion, is too predictable and sometimes focuses more on Depp's character than the tragedy itself.

An interesting pattern emerges: audiences support the actor's return, while critics are clearly cautious and waiting for something special. Too early for rave reviews.
Maybe "A Christmas Carol" will be that film and finally bring back the Johnny Depp from the Tim Burton days—eccentric, fantastical, refusing to fit in any box. And Depp knows how to transform, so we're calmly waiting for the release. Just hope this Christmas carol doesn't become a swan song.