Ebenezer: This Movie Marks Johnny Depp’s High-Profile Return To Major Hollywood Studio Films

Ebenezer Synopsis:

A bitter Ebenezer Scrooge (Johnny Depp) is forced to confront the dark legacy of his greed on a terrifying Victorian Christmas Eve. Warned by the chained spirit of his former partner Jacob Marley (Ian McKellen), Scrooge is haunted by three chilling ghostly entities that drag him through his painful past, the hidden suffering of his present, and the bleak nightmare of his future.

Genre: Fantasy, Drama

Release Date: In theaters November 13th, 2026

Ebenezer Fun Facts: This Movie Marks Johnny Depp’s High-Profile Return To Major Hollywood Studio Films

Indie Horror Master at the Helm:
Directed by Ti West, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed indie horror trilogy X, Pearl, and MaXXXine. This project takes a classic holiday story and turns it on its head as West applies his signature style to the familiar seasonal backdrop, blending eerie Gothic horror with sharp, dark humor to create an unsettling yet entertaining twist on a festive tale in Ebenezer.

Ian McKellen’s Lightning-Fast Cameo:
Legendary actor Ian McKellen takes on the role of Jacob Marley, the doomed former business partner who returns as a ghost to warn Ebenezer Scrooge. Even though Marley is a central figure in the story whose haunting presence sets the entire plot into motion, McKellen managed to film all of his scenes in a remarkably short six-day window.

Johnny Depp’s High-Profile Studio Return:
Ebenezer marks Johnny Depp’s high-profile return to major Hollywood studio films, as he takes on the iconic title role of Ebenezer Scrooge. This new film reimagines Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol, as a dark fantasy, giving the timeless story a darker, more atmospheric, and gothic twist.

Method PR at San Diego Comic-Con:
Johnny Depp gave fans the ultimate surprise at San Diego Comic-Con when he walked right through the convention floor completely in character as Ebenezer Scrooge, dressed head-to-toe in full costume. He dropped by a snow-covered "Scrooge and Marley" pop-up shop in San Diego's famous Gaslamp Quarter to interact directly with delighted fans. To top it all off, Depp crashed the official director's panel in Hall H, staying in full character to dramatically introduce the film's first trailer to a packed crowd.

Shot in Real Victorian Docks:
To give the film an authentic Victorian London setting, the production skipped studio sets and filmed on location at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, England. Spanning 80 acres, this preserved maritime site features original 18th- and 19th-century architecture, cobbled streets, and historic naval buildings, making it a go-to filming location for high-profile period dramas and transporting audiences back in time.

Friday the 13th Christmas Magic:
The film Ebenezer is scheduled to hit theaters on Friday, November 13th, 2026. Choosing to release a dark Christmas movie on Friday the 13th is no accident; it is a clever nod to director Ti West's famous horror roots. This intentional release date highlights that the film is leaning heavily into psychological terror and chilling horror with dark humor rather than delivering traditional holiday warmth and cheer.

Source: youtube, wikipedia