Johnny Depp is taking on one of literature’s most famous Christmas characters, and a new behind-the-scenes featurette offers a closer look at his transformation into Ebenezer Scrooge. Paramount Pictures has released new footage from Ebenezer, director Ti West’s upcoming take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, ahead of its November 13 theatrical release. The featurette puts Depp’s portrayal of the notorious Christmas miser in the spotlight while introducing more of the film’s impressive supporting cast, including Ian McKellen, Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint and Tramell Tillman.
For Depp, Ebenezer represents another opportunity to disappear into an eccentric character, something he has done throughout his career in films such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Scrooge has been portrayed by countless actors over the years, but pairing Depp with West makes this version particularly intriguing.
Paramount is keeping the actual story details close to its chest. The official synopsis offers little beyond the promise of Depp as Scrooge and the tagline, “The name you know, the story you don’t.” That leaves plenty of questions about how closely West’s version will follow the original story and what changes might be waiting for audiences.
Depp leads a cast that includes Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Charlie Murphy, with Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen also appearing.
The film has received a PG-13 rating for “frightening material,” which seems appropriate for a story involving supernatural visitors and visions of Christmases past, present and future. Dickens’ original novella has always had its share of unsettling imagery, giving West plenty to work with if he decides to explore that side of the story.
The screenplay was written by Nathaniel Halpern, whose previous work includes creating the television series Tales from the Loop and writing for Legion. Emma Watts produces the film through Wattsco, with IN.2 Films and Domain Entertainment also involved in the production.
The new featurette arrives alongside a fresh poster for the film, giving audiences another look at Paramount’s upcoming holiday release.
Ebenezer opens exclusively in theaters November 13, 2026.
