Quick summary
- Ebenezer is Johnny Depp‘s first major Hollywood film since Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018, according to ABC News.
- The film had its global premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on Monday and opens in cinemas on 13 November.
- Early reactions gathered by JoBlo range from “wonderfully twisted” to “shameful”, with praise for Depp’s performance more common than not.
- Depp’s next film, the thriller Day Drinker, is scheduled for March 2027.
Johnny Depp stepped back onto a Hollywood red carpet this week as the lead of Ebenezer, a darker retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. ABC News reports the film is his first major Hollywood role in eight years, and the first reactions suggest audiences may be divided.
A comeback that Depp plays down
The premiere took place on Monday at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, ABC News reported. Asked by The Associated Press how it felt to be back in Hollywood, Depp turned the question around. He asked what the difference is between a Hollywood film and a French film, then answered it himself: “There was a bit of a vacation,” he said. “Which is fine.”
The gap is real. Depp’s last major studio credit was Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018. Since then ABC points to one notable film, the French production Jeanne du Barry, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. That is a long way from the studio tent-poles that once defined his career.
What Ebenezer is about
The film is directed by Ti West and adapted from the 1843 novel by Charles Dickens. According to its synopsis, it follows “the deliciously unpleasant Ebenezer Scrooge” on Christmas Eve, as he meets his past, present and future on a supernatural journey that will decide his fate.
The supporting cast is deep. Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit, Andrea Riseborough is the Ghost of Christmas Past and Tramell Tillman the Ghost of Christmas Present. Ian McKellen appears as Jacob Marley, Sam Claflin as Scrooge’s nephew Fred and Daisy Ridley as Fred’s wife, Clara. Arthur Conti plays the young Ebenezer and Ellie Bamber plays Belle, according to JoBlo. Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Charles Murphy are also in the film.
Early reactions are split
JoBlo collected a spread of first reactions, and they do not agree. Its own reviewer said Depp gives “a layered performance” and called it his favourite Depp role in a few years, adding that it is cartoonish at times but less so than the trailer suggests. Another viewer called it one of the most faithful Dickens adaptations, with a horror streak, and said they teared up at the end.
Others were warmer still. One described Depp as “magnetic” through Scrooge’s redemption arc. One more reaction was mixed: it praised the gothic style and solid performances but said the story is well-worn territory and that the film feels like a way to bring Depp back into the mainstream.
Then there was the harshest verdict. One viewer wrote that every element was “chaotic, mismatched” and told people to avoid it, though even that post made an exception for the production design and score. These are social media posts from early screenings, not published reviews, so the picture will sharpen once critics weigh in.
For more on the reception and the money side of the deal, see our earlier piece, Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer: Early Praise and a $5M Salary.
The backdrop to the return
ABC notes the film arrives four years after the end of Depp’s defamation trial against his former wife, Amber Heard. Depp sued in February 2019 over her 2018 Washington Post op-ed. Heard countersued over statements made by his attorney. A Virginia jury sided mostly with Depp, awarding him $10 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages, while Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages. The two settled in December 2022, ABC reports.
What happens next
Ebenezer opens in cinemas on 13 November. Depp’s next listed project is Day Drinker, a thriller directed by Marc Webb, alongside Madelyn Cline and Penélope Cruz, which ABC says is scheduled for a March 2027 theatrical release. How Ebenezer performs will likely shape how much studio work follows. You can follow more coverage in our Movies and Celebrities sections.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ebenezer open?
JoBlo reports that Ebenezer reaches cinemas on 13 November. The global premiere was held in London on Monday.
Who directed Ebenezer?
Ti West directed the film. It is a retelling of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novel A Christmas Carol, with Johnny Depp as Scrooge.
What is Johnny Depp doing after Ebenezer?
He is set to appear in Day Drinker, a Marc Webb thriller with Madelyn Cline and Penélope Cruz, scheduled for March 2027, according to ABC News.
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