Johnny Depp stepped back into the Hollywood spotlight on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the global premiere of Ebenezer in London. He played Ebenezer Scrooge in the new film, and the night felt like the start of a major comeback. The premiere took place at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, with Christmas greenery and snow-dusted fir trees lining the red carpet. Depp was joined by Rupert Grint and other co-stars. The film opens in theaters on Friday, November 13, 2026, from Paramount Pictures.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film | Ebenezer |
| Global premiere | Monday, November 9, 2026 |
| Premiere venue | Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London |
| Theatrical release | Friday, November 13, 2026 |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
| Director | Ti West |
| Screenplay | Nathaniel Halpern |
| Based on | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, published in 1843 |
| Johnny Depp role | Ebenezer Scrooge |
| Runtime | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| UK rating | 12A |
| Full reviews | Embargo lifts at noon on Thursday, November 12 |
A Premiere Built for Christmas in the Middle of November
The London premiere looked like Christmas had arrived early. The red carpet area was dressed with Christmas greenery and snow-dusted fir trees, which gave the night a seasonal feel even though it was still early November. That choice made sense for a film based on A Christmas Carol, a story that has belonged to the Christmas season for more than 180 years.
Johnny Depp arrived as the clear center of attention, but he was not alone. Rupert Grint joined him on the carpet, along with Tramell Tillman, Sam Claflin, Ellie Bamber, Robert Strange, Charlie Murphy, and Henry Lloyd-Hughes. Director Ti West was also there.
For Depp, that mattered. This was a public return, in front of cameras, fans, and the press, in a city with a deep link to Dickens and the story itself.
The Film Itself: A Gothic Take on a Story Everyone Knows
Ebenezer is based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The screenplay was written by Nathaniel Halpern, and the film was directed by Ti West. West is known as a horror filmmaker, with Pearl and MaXXXine among his earlier films. That background points to a darker and more gothic style than the warm and gentle versions many viewers grew up with.
The official logline sets that tone in a simple way: “This November, Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The name you know, the story you don’t.” The line tells viewers that the basic story will feel familiar, but the telling will not. It is a clear signal that the film wants to surprise people who think they already know how Scrooge changes from a cold and selfish man into someone who learns to care for others.
That approach carries promise and risk. A gothic version can bring out the fear and cold of Scrooge’s world, but it can also feel too dark for viewers who want a classic Christmas film. The runtime is 1 hour 55 minutes, and the UK rating is 12A, which gives the story room to build slowly.
The Cast Around Depp
Depp leads the film as Ebenezer Scrooge, and the cast around him brings together familiar names and strong stage and screen talent. Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit, the clerk who works for Scrooge and stays loyal to him even when Scrooge treats him poorly. Grint is best known for his long run in the Harry Potter films.
Andrea Riseborough plays the Ghost of Christmas Past, who takes Scrooge back to his younger days. Tramell Tillman plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows Scrooge how others live now, including the Cratchit family. Ian McKellen plays Jacob Marley, the ghost of Scrooge’s former business partner, who warns him that he must change or face a lonely end. Sam Claflin plays Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, who keeps inviting him to Christmas dinner even when Scrooge turns him away.
Daisy Ridley plays Emily Cratchit, and Arthur Conti plays young Ebenezer, which means viewers will see the early life that shaped the older Scrooge. Ellie Bamber plays Isabel Fezziwig, a figure from Scrooge’s past.
What Early Viewers Are Saying So Far
First reactions from press screenings in New York and the London premiere are split on the film itself, but nearly everyone agrees on one point: Depp’s Scrooge is the anchor of the film. That is an important split to understand. It means viewers may disagree about the style, the pace, or the darker tone, while still praising the lead performance.
One early reaction called Depp “the perfect Scrooge, up there with Alastair Sim and Michael Caine.” Sim played Scrooge in the 1951 film Scrooge, and Caine is also among the most loved actors to play the role. To place Depp in that company shows how strongly his performance landed.
At the premiere, Depp told Extra that Alastair Sim’s 1951 Scrooge is the definitive version, but he wanted to find a different way into the character. That comment fits the film’s logline and its gothic style. Depp was not trying to copy Sim. He was trying to find his own path to a character that many actors have played before him.
There is also an early test screening figure to note. Puck reported that an August 11 test screening in Paramus, New Jersey, scored 80, meaning four-fifths of the audience rated it excellent or very good. This is a test screening figure, not a critics’ aggregate, and it should not be read as a review score. Full reviews arrive when the embargo lifts at noon on Thursday, November 12, one day before the film opens.
Why This Release Matters for Depp
Ebenezer is the first major wide release of a Depp movie since Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018. That gap is a long time in Hollywood, and it is why this release is being talked about as a comeback. A wide release from Paramount Pictures puts Depp back at the center of a major studio film, in theaters, during a busy season.
USA Today ran a story with the headline “How Johnny Depp is making his big Hollywood comeback,” which shows how the press is framing the moment. The comeback story has been building for months. Depp appeared in character at Comic-Con in San Diego in July. He hosted a private star-studded screening in New York last week. He also appeared in character at Bryant Park’s Christmas Market on November 9, the same day as the London premiere. Each step kept Scrooge in the public eye and linked Depp to the character in a direct and visible way.
In the trailer, Depp says as Scrooge, “It is good to be back.” In the story, it fits a man returning to life and to other people. Outside the story, it sounds like a message from Depp himself. A 2026 National Research Group study ranked Depp seventh worldwide among actors audiences most wanted to see, which shows that public interest in him is still strong.
What Happens Next Before Opening Day
The next key moment is the end of the review embargo at noon on Thursday, November 12. Once it lifts, full reviews will give a much fuller sense of the story, the direction, the look of the film, and whether the gothic style works from start to finish.
After that, the film opens in theaters on Friday, November 13, 2026. That date is close enough to Christmas to feel seasonal, but early enough to give the film room to find its audience before the busiest part of the holiday season. A Christmas film that opens in mid November can build through word of mouth, school holidays, and family trips to the cinema.
The comeback talk also links to other projects. Trailers are out for Day Drinker, a thriller due next spring starring Depp as a mysterious passenger aboard a private yacht, with Madelyn Cline and Penelope Cruz. Fans who follow Depp’s wider career will also be watching talk around Johnny Depp and a possible Pirates of the Caribbean return. In the same week, box office news has also focused on Clayface crossing 100 million worldwide, while casting news continues with Scarlett Johansson and the Batman Part II role.
Is Ebenezer Johnny Depp’s first major wide release since 2018?
Yes. Ebenezer is the first major wide release of a Depp movie since Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018. It opens in theaters on Friday, November 13, 2026, from Paramount Pictures.
Who plays Scrooge and Bob Cratchit in Ebenezer?
Johnny Depp plays Ebenezer Scrooge, and Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit. The cast also includes Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, and Ellie Bamber.
When do full reviews of Ebenezer arrive?
Full reviews arrive when the embargo lifts at noon on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Early reactions are split on the film itself, but many early viewers have praised Depp’s performance as Scrooge.
What did early viewers say about Johnny Depp as Scrooge?
Early viewers largely agreed that Depp’s Scrooge is the anchor of the film. One early reaction called him “the perfect Scrooge, up there with Alastair Sim and Michael Caine.” Depp has said Alastair Sim’s 1951 Scrooge is the definitive version, but he wanted to find a different way into the character.
Sources
Final Thoughts
The Johnny Depp Ebenezer premiere in London did what a good premiere should do. It put the star, the story, and the season in one frame, and it gave viewers a clear reason to pay attention. The Christmas greenery, the snow-dusted fir trees, and the Leicester Square setting made the night feel special. The cast list showed the depth around Depp. The early reactions showed that his Scrooge is already winning praise, even while views on the film itself remain split.
The real test starts on November 12, when full reviews arrive, and on November 13, when the film opens in theaters. If the reviews praise the gothic style as well as the lead performance, Ebenezer could become a strong Christmas hit. If they stay split, Depp’s Scrooge may still carry the film. Either way, the premiere marked a clear moment: Johnny Depp is back in a major studio film, and the world is watching.
