MOVIE NEWS – Johnny Depp is famous for loving to disappear completely into the characters he plays. Whether it is Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, or Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the 63-year-old actor is never satisfied with half measures. Visitors to San Diego Comic-Con, however, did not expect him to appear in his latest role not only on the cinema screen, but also in person inside the pop-culture festival’s convention hall.

A hunched figure with a stern expression, wearing a 19th-century coat and top hat, stepped onto the stage, and nobody recognized him at first. He was greeted with enormous applause only when it became clear who was standing on the podium.

The big surprise promoted the film Ebenezer. This time, the classic Dickens story A Christmas Carol has been brought to the screen by Ti West, a director at home in the horror and thriller genres whose previous work includes X and Pearl. Alongside Depp, the period-authentic yet unsettlingly modern new adaptation features international stars including Ian McKellen, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Grint, Daisy Ridley, and Sam Claflin.

Depp previously said that playing Scrooge represents a tremendous opportunity for him because, as a longtime Dickens admirer, he was captivated by the moving story of redemption when he was still young. The protagonist of A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a miserly and dark-hearted businessman who is visited by ghosts on Christmas Eve and guided towards the right path. The previously thoroughly wicked and embittered man is transformed by the miracle, and the following morning sets out as a genuine benefactor determined to support those in need. Such a complex character is a rewarding role for any actor worthy of the profession, Depp emphasized.

The extent to which the story of Dickens’ character has become part of English-speaking culture is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the word “scrooge” has meant a miserly, stingy person since the middle of the 19th century.

(Ebenezer – release date: November 12, 2026.)

Source: UIP-Duna Film