Johnny Depp Returns as Scrooge in Chilling New ‘Ebenezer’ Trailer
Few filmmakers would think to turn ‘A Christmas Carol’ into a genuinely unsettling ghost story, but Ti West isn’t most filmmakers. The director behind ‘X’, ‘Pearl’, and ‘MaXXXine’ is putting his own stamp on the Charles Dickens classic, with Johnny Depp stepping into the role of the original holiday grump. Ti West’s ‘Ebenezer’ has been building steady buzz ever since it was first unveiled.
The project marks a significant comeback for its star. It is Depp’s first role from a major studio since 2018’s ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’, and his first major Hollywood role since his widely publicized 2022 trial. The film is written by Nathaniel Halpern, known for ‘Tales From the Loop’ and ‘Legion’, and produced by Emma Watts.
On October 1, Paramount released a brand-new trailer for ‘Ebenezer’, following the first teaser that debuted as part of the studio’s promotional push at San Diego Comic-Con. The footage, running a little over 2 and a half minutes, leans hard into the story’s darker side.
According to iHorror, the trailer opens on familiar ground, with Depp’s Scrooge moving through a snowy Victorian city in a black top hat and heavy dark coat. Charity collectors, ledgers, and cold rooms set the scene for a man who very much wants to be left alone. Then the lights go down, and the ghost story takes over.
The outlet noted that the trailer treats Scrooge’s ghosts like genuine horror imagery while keeping a comedic backdrop. That blend matches the film’s cryptic official tagline, which promises the name audiences know but a story they don’t.
A new trailer for Ti West’s ‘EBENEZER’ has been released. Starring Johnny Depp as Scrooge. Releasing in theaters this Thanksgiving. https://t.co/XYN0uvS5KN
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) October 1, 2026
The first trailer had already set that tone. SlashFilm observed that it felt distinctly horror-tinged, from the spectral Ghost of Christmas Past, played by Andrea Riseborough, to blood-red text referencing Depp’s past misfit characters. It even included a direct homage to Depp’s first movie role in Wes Craven’s 1984 classic ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’.
For West, the horror angle makes perfect sense. Speaking at a CinemaCon presentation, he explained that certain ‘A Christmas Carol’ adaptations gave him some of his earliest glimpses of the horror genre. The first trailer closed with Depp’s Scrooge delivering a fitting line about how good it felt to be back.
#JohnnyDepp is Ebenezer Scrooge.
— GSC (@GSCinemas) October 1, 2026
New poster for #EbenezerMovie, coming to GSC starting 12 November 2026! #EbenezerScrooge #Malaysia pic.twitter.com/TC8xW4tR8L
Depp is surrounded by an impressive ensemble. The cast includes Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, Tramell Tillman, and Ian McKellen. Production took place in Dublin and London in early 2026. The film is made by Paramount and Green Bean Pictures.
In a twist of its own, the film isn’t arriving at Christmas. Paramount has chosen to target the Thanksgiving market, releasing ‘Ebenezer’ in US theaters on November 13, just ahead of the holiday. That gives the movie a head start on the festive season and room to build word of mouth before December.
As with many bold reimaginings, the reaction online has been mixed. Some viewers have praised the trailer’s moody atmosphere, with First Showing calling the first look amusing and not bad at all. Others are less convinced, with at least one commenter under the latest trailer calling it a step down for West.
That divide is likely to follow the film right up to release. Between Depp’s return to studio filmmaking and West’s horror sensibilities, ‘Ebenezer’ is shaping up to be one of the season’s most talked-about holiday releases, for better or worse.
Are you excited to see Johnny Depp’s horror take on A Christmas Carol in Ebenezer?
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