Depp to star as Scrooge in Ti West's Christmas Carol remake

Johnny Depp is in final negotiations to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Paramount Pictures' "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol," marking his first major studio film since 2018's "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" following his public legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heardimdb+2.
Horror director Ti West, known for the acclaimed X trilogy, will direct the film from a script by Nathaniel Halpern, with Andrea Riseborough set to co-star and a planned release date of November 13, 2026imdb+2.
The project is described as "a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens' London" and represents Paramount's entry into a race with Warner Bros., which is developing its own Charles Dickens adaptation directed by Robert Eggers with Willem Dafoe eyed for Scroogeimdb+2.
Eggers' version, still in early development, is unlikely to release before 2027 as he is currently set to direct "Werwulf" first, potentially giving Paramount's adaptation a head startaol+2.
The film marks a significant milestone in Depp's gradual return to mainstream Hollywood and represents Ti West's first major studio project after establishing his reputation in independent horror cinemaimdb+2.

Johnny Depp is making his highest-profile return to Hollywood since his legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard, signing on to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in Paramount Pictures' "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol." The horror auteur Ti West, known for his acclaimed X trilogy, will direct the film scheduled for November 13, 2026.imdb+3

The project represents Depp's first major studio film since 2018's "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," marking a significant milestone in his gradual return to mainstream Hollywood following his 2022 defamation trial victory. Paramount is in final negotiations with the actor for what sources describe as "a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens' London, following one man's supernatural journey to face his past, present and future and fight for a second chance".imdb+2

Racing Against Warner Bros Competition

The announcement comes as Hollywood prepares for dueling Christmas Carol adaptations. Warner Bros has its own version in development with "Nosferatu" director Robert Eggers writing and directing, with Willem Dafoe eyed to play Scrooge. However, with Eggers currently filming his werewolf movie "Werwulf" through 2025, Paramount's version appears positioned to reach theaters first.aol+3

Andrea Riseborough, Oscar-nominated for "To Leslie," will co-star in the Paramount production alongside Depp. The script comes from Nathaniel Halpern, whose credits include "Legion" and "Tales from the Loop," with Emma Watts producing.imdb+2

Ti West's Studio Breakthrough

For West, the project marks his first major studio film after building a reputation in horror with A24's X trilogy featuring Mia Goth. The filmmaker's atmospheric style and genre expertise appear well-suited for Dickens' supernatural tale, which has been adapted over 100 times since the original 1843 novella.bloody-disgusting+2

Industry observers note the strategic timing of Depp's casting, following his recent work on smaller projects like the French film "Jeanne du Barry" and the upcoming Lionsgate thriller "Day Drinker" with Penélope Cruz. The role of the miserly Scrooge aligns with Depp's history of portraying eccentric, transformative characters from Captain Jack Sparrow to the Mad Hatter.infoinmovie+4

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