Johnny Depp is returning to a major studio production with Ebenezer, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, in which he plays Ebenezer Scrooge. The film marks his first studio release since his highly publicised legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard, putting renewed attention on his Hollywood comeback and its commercial prospects.
The film also features Sir Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint and Daisy Ridley. Its performance at the box office could help determine whether Depp can return to major Hollywood productions.
The casting has also drawn attention because of the story’s central theme of redemption. In Dickens’s original, Scrooge is a wealthy but unpopular man who changes his ways after a series of supernatural encounters.
Depp’s legal battles and career setbacks
In November 2020, Depp lost a libel case in England against The Sun newspaper, which had described him as a “wife beater” in an article about his relationship with Heard. The judge ruled that the newspaper had proved the article’s allegations to be “substantially true”.
Warner Bros subsequently removed Depp from the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
In 2022, Depp sued Heard for defamation in the United States over an opinion article she had written for The Washington Post, which implied that she was a victim of domestic abuse. The jury found in Depp’s favour and ruled that Heard had defamed him.
However, the six-week trial brought extensive details of the couple’s turbulent relationship into public view. Their former marriage counsellor, Dr Laurel Anderson, testified that she had observed what she described as “mutual abuse”.
In 2023, Depp said he felt boycotted by Hollywood after being asked to leave a film because of allegations against him.
Despite the setbacks, he continued to work. He appeared in the French historical drama Jeanne du Barry, directed the film Modi, Three Days on the Wings of Madness and remained the face of Dior’s Sauvage fragrance.
Heard’s career followed a different trajectory. After appearing in the 2018 film Aquaman, she had a reduced role in its 2023 sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. She has not appeared in another film since.
Marketing focuses on Depp’s return
The marketing campaign for Ebenezer has placed considerable emphasis on Depp’s return to major studio filmmaking.
The first trailer, released in July, referenced his previous roles in Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland, describing him as the “master of misfits” returning to the screen.
Depp appears briefly before addressing the camera with the words: “It’s good to be back.”
The approach has drawn criticism from some observers. Maureen Ryan, author of Burn It Down: Power, Complacency and a Call for Change in Hollywood, described the comeback-focused promotion as tasteless and off-putting.
She argued that Hollywood was experiencing a backlash against efforts to hold powerful industry figures accountable for their behaviour.
Public reaction to the trailer has been mixed, although many viewers expressed enthusiasm about seeing Depp return. An article in the New Statesman also questioned what his comeback meant for the #MeToo movement.
Depp’s supporters, meanwhile, have argued that he was unfairly treated following Heard’s allegations. In a 2025 interview, the actor described himself as having been made a “crash test dummy for #MeToo”.
Can Ebenezer revive his box-office appeal?
Industry observers say Depp’s continued popularity among sections of the public could help the film succeed.
Public relations expert Mark Borkowski, author of The Fame Formula, said Hollywood was willing to welcome stars back if they could generate revenue.
He also pointed to the strong support Depp received from fans during the court proceedings, suggesting that his audience appeal had not disappeared.
Karen McNally, professor of American Film, Television and Cultural History at London Metropolitan University, highlighted another aspect of the production. Depp’s prosthetic make-up transforms his appearance, allowing audiences to focus on the character rather than the actor’s public image.
She believes the film’s familiar story and festive setting could work in his favour, giving viewers a feel-good experience that may also shape their perception of the actor.
Early box-office forecasts offer encouragement
Early indicators suggest that Ebenezer could perform well.
According to a report by Matthew Belloni in Puck News in August, the film received a score of 86 out of 100 at a Paramount test screening. Belloni described this as a particularly strong result for a leading actor.
Box Office Theory has forecast an opening weekend of $22 million in the United States and total domestic earnings of more than $100 million. The film reportedly had a production budget of $38 million.
A representative for Depp told the BBC that audiences and the film industry were “incredibly excited” about his return.
A successful release could open the door to further major projects. Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, said in August that the series was being relaunched, with Depp returning as its leading actor.
Depp is also due to appear in Day Drinker, a supernatural thriller co-starring Penélope Cruz and directed by Marc Webb. The film is scheduled for release in March 2027.
For now, the performance of Ebenezer will offer an important indication of the commercial strength of Depp’s return to major studio filmmaking.
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