Johnny Depp Teases Bold Plan to Reinvent Alastair Sim’s Scrooge

Johnny Depp is stepping back into the big Hollywood spotlight as Ebenezer Scrooge, and yes, that combo is exactly as intriguing as it sounds: Depp starring in a Ti West Christmas movie called 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol'. He told Entertainment Tonight he took the prep seriously and wants to come at Scrooge from a fresh angle, which tracks — a lot of legends have worn the top hat before him.

His North Star: Alastair Sim

Depp says the version that imprinted on him was Alastair Sim in the 1951 film 'Scrooge' — retitled 'A Christmas Carol' in the U.S. If you know that performance, this choice makes perfect sense. Sim's take is widely considered the benchmark: a transformation that feels earned and deeply human, not just a man scared straight by ghosts.

'It is one of my favorite films of all time. His performance is perfection.'

That is Depp on Sim, and honestly, hard to argue. If you are going to crib, crib from the best.

The comeback question

For context: Depp's last big Hollywood outing before his courtroom saga was 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'. After his ex-wife Amber Heard's public allegations, Disney moved on from him for 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6'. He later won in court and, rather than sprinting back to blockbusters, took his time. This Ti West project reads like the first full-tilt studio return — and it is a fascinating pairing. West is the filmmaker behind 'Pearl' and 'X', so expect a darker, moodier twist on Dickens than your standard holiday fireplace vibe.

What we know so far

• Title: 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol'
• Director: Ti West ('Pearl', 'X')
• Lead: Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge, aiming for a different spin than past portrayals
• Inspiration: Alastair Sim's 1951 'Scrooge' (released as 'A Christmas Carol' in the U.S.)
• Cast: Ian McKellen and Andrea Riseborough in undisclosed roles
• Tone: Billed as a Christmas movie but likely darker under West's influence
• Status: Depp told Entertainment Tonight he dug in on preparation and is serious about the role
• Release: November 13, 2026 (US)

Why this could work

Scrooge is tailor-made for a shapeshifter like Depp — flinty, closed-off, then cracked open, which is basically an actor's playground. If West leans into the shadows while Depp channels the empathy that made Sim's arc feel so real, we might be looking at a holiday movie that actually leaves a mark.