Johnny Depp returns to Hollywood as Ebenezer Scrooge in dark reimagining of 'A Christmas Carol'

Johnny Depp's comeback in Hollywood

Hollywood is bracing for a heartfelt comeback as Johnny Depp prepares to star in what could be his most significant project since the highly publicised fallout from his defamation battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.

Once a global icon, Johnny Depp is now stepping back into the spotlight with a fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale, A Christmas Carol.

Paramount Pictures, under the leadership of David Ellison, is finalising plans to produce the film, titled Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, the project brings together an impressive team: horror maestro Ti West, known for X, Pearl, and MaXXXine, will direct, with Nathaniel Halpern writing the script. Andrea Riseborough is also attached to star, while Emma Watts, former head of Paramount’s film division, is producing.

The studio describes the story 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” — a narrative that mirrors Depp’s own journey in recent years.

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Depp will portray the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge, a role that feels almost symbolic of his own path. Once celebrated for blockbuster hits like Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Depp’s Hollywood standing took a hit amid the legal battles with Amber Heard.

The negative headlines led studios to distance themselves from him, and in 2020, he was notably dropped from Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Turning to international projects, Johnny Depp starred in the French period drama Jeanne du Barry, and at its Cannes 2023 premiere, he candidly reflected on Hollywood’s view of him: “I don’t feel boycotted, because I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t feel much further need for Hollywood — I don’t know about you.”

His gradual return to American cinema began with Day Drinker, a thriller produced by Lionsgate, which wrapped filming earlier this year and recently launched international sales at the American Film Market. Scheduled for release in 2026, it set the stage for his next big move.