The Literary Source Behind Ti West’s ‘Ebenezer’ and Why It Keeps Getting Retold

Paramount Pictures has scheduled ‘Ebenezer’ for theaters on November 13, and the studio’s trailer has left many moviegoers asking what the film is actually based on. The ghost story features Johnny Depp as the legendary miser Ebenezer Scrooge. The title alone points toward a familiar name, but the film’s tone suggests something less cozy than the usual holiday fare.

So what is ‘Ebenezer’ based on? The film adapts the 1843 novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. The new version offers a darker take on the tale, blending supernatural elements with the horror style associated with director Ti West.

Dickens Source Material Behind the Story

The story centers on Ebenezer Scrooge, a misanthropic and miserly businessman in 19th century London who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Those visits are meant to save him from an afterlife of torment. That basic structure is the backbone of the Dickens tale, and it remains the foundation of this production.

Reporting on the film says the plot follows the same basic structure audiences already know, while still holding onto the core message about redemption. In other words, the new film is not reinventing the story’s destination. It is changing the road that leads there.

The Dickens story has a long screen history. Notable earlier adaptations include a version starring Alastair Sim, ‘Scrooged’ with Bill Murray, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ with Michael Caine, and a version starring Jim Carrey. ScreenCrush describes this one as just one of dozens of film adaptations of the holiday tale.

Not everyone expects a straight retelling. Some fans have theorized that the film will actually be a prequel to the events of the original story, even though it is billed as a ghost story based on Dickens’ work. Nothing in the retrieved coverage confirms that theory.

Ti West’s Darker Adaptation of a Holiday Classic

The film is directed by Ti West, known for ‘X’ and ‘Pearl’, and written by Nathaniel Halpern. Halpern’s credits include episodes of ‘Legion’ and ‘Outcast’. That pairing of a horror filmmaker and a television writer shapes how the material is being approached.

According to Esquire India, West plays up the horror and unease already present in the original text, treating the ghostly visits less like moral lessons and more like genuine horror. That is a notable choice for a story so often associated with warmth and family viewing. It also gives the film a distinct identity among its many predecessors.

The production is produced by Emma Watts, shot by cinematographer Checco Varese, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. ScreenCrush characterizes the finished project as a dark fantasy, supernatural Christmas movie.

Another dark version of the Dickens story is in development elsewhere. Bloody Disgusting notes that Robert Eggers is planning his own dark take on ‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Willem Dafoe. That gives horror minded viewers two distinct reinterpretations to watch for.

Ebenezer Cast and Characters

The cast includes Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen and Daisy Ridley. Sam Claflin, Charlie Murphy, Arthur Conti and Ellie Bamber are also listed in the cast. The ensemble leans heavily on British talent.

Some roles have been identified in the listings. Tramell Tillman is listed as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit. Ian McKellen appears as Jacob Marley.

Depp has spoken about his connection to the material. He called the project an “extraordinary privilege” and said he had been obsessed with the story since childhood. Footage shown at CinemaCon included the famous “Bah humbug” line and a visit from the ghost of Christmas past, along with some comedic touches in his performance.

The film marks Depp’s first big screen appearance in eight years, and he showed up on stage dressed as Scrooge when Paramount debuted the trailer at San Diego Comic Con. That return is a significant part of the conversation around the release.

Release Date and Earlier Versions of Ebenezer

Paramount shared the trailer in late July, and the movie opens in theaters on November 13. Movie Insider listed filming as completed in July, with editing, music and effects work still underway. The release lands ahead of the Christmas season, and just days from now.

Reception to the marketing has been mixed. ComingSoon.net reported that users on X criticized the film’s tagline, arguing it did not make sense because his full name is Ebenezer Scrooge. That reaction concerns the promotion, and no critic reviews appeared in the retrieved material.

This is also not the first screen project to carry that name. A 1998 Canadian made for television fantasy drama Western called ‘Ebenezer’ starred Jack Palance and Ricky Schroder. It was also based on ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens.

Another independent feature, ‘Ebenezer the Traveler’, has also arrived with a sequel on the way. With so many retellings in circulation, do you think Johnny Depp’s gothic Scrooge will stand apart from Jack Palance’s Western version when ‘Ebenezer’ reaches theaters?