Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is getting another trip to the big screen, but this time, Christmas comes with a few extra chills. Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp as the famously miserable Ebenezer Scrooge, brings together director Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine) and one of literature’s most recognizable holiday stories.
Set against the gloomy streets of Victorian London, the live-action adaptation promises supernatural scares, macabre humor, and plenty of atmospheric storytelling. The familiar journey through Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come remains at the heart of the story, but West appears ready to give it a decidedly darker edge.
A Christmas Carol With a Gothic Twist
The story follows Scrooge, a wealthy businessman whose love of money has left little room for kindness, friendship, or Christmas cheer. But when a supernatural visitor arrives on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is forced to confront his past, the people he has hurt, and the future waiting for him if he refuses to change.
It’s a story audiences know well, but West wants to make the ghosts genuinely unsettling. Expect elaborate period settings, eerie imagery, frightening encounters, and a healthy dose of dark humor. As cast member Ellie Bamber described it, the film is “still very Christmassy with a hint of fright.”
In other words, this isn’t necessarily your traditional feel-good holiday movie.
A Familiar Story, An Interesting Cast
Depp leads a sizable ensemble featuring several recognizable names and familiar Dickens characters.
Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s overworked employee, while Ian McKellen takes on Jacob Marley, the deceased business partner whose appearance sets the supernatural events in motion. Andrea Riseborough and Tramell Tillman portray the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present, respectively.
The cast also includes Sam Claflin as Fred, Ellie Bamber as Belle, and Arthur Conti as a young Ebenezer. Daisy Ridley, Charlie Murphy, and Henry Lloyd-Hughes round out the ensemble.
Why Johnny Depp and Ti West?
West’s involvement makes this adaptation particularly interesting. Best known for his recent horror work, the director has described A Christmas Carol as a story he has loved since childhood. He even recalled being frightened by Jacob Marley in the 1984 George C. Scott adaptation.
Depp reportedly approached West after learning about the project, and the two discovered a shared appreciation for Dickens’ story and Alastair Sim’s celebrated performance in the 1951 film Scrooge.
That admiration creates an interesting challenge: how do you revisit such a familiar character while still finding something new? Depp and West seem intent on answering that question through a darker, more atmospheric interpretation.
Release Date and Production
Filming took place in the United Kingdom, including London and the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, whose preserved historic buildings helped establish the film’s Victorian setting.
Nathaniel Halpern wrote the screenplay, Emma Watts serves as producer, and Paramount Pictures is handling distribution.
Ebenezer is scheduled to arrive in theaters in the United States and United Kingdom on November 13, 2026.
One More Christmas Carol Worth Watching?
There have been plenty of adaptations of Dickens’ holiday classic, from traditional dramas to animated adventures and modern comedies. Bringing Ti West into the mix gives this one a different identity.
The combination of Depp, McKellen, and West is certainly an intriguing proposition, particularly for viewers who enjoy their Christmas entertainment with a little supernatural darkness.
Whether it becomes a new holiday favorite remains to be seen, but Ebenezer looks ready to remind audiences that Christmas ghosts can be genuinely frightening.
The name you know, the story you don’t.