Johnny Depp’s Next Movie Could Finally End His Post-Amber Heard Trial Box Office Slump

Johnny Depp is teaming with Ti West for a gothic spin on Dickens, and honestly, that combo makes a lot of sense. Paramount, now under Skydance, is close to locking down West's new take on 'A Christmas Carol' with Depp front and center. If Depp wants a clean shot at ending his box office slump, this feels like the kind of swing that could actually land.

What we know right now

• Title: 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol'
• Studio: Paramount (deal is in final negotiations)
• Director: Ti West
• Star: Johnny Depp
• Also starring: Andrea Riseborough
• Writer: Nathaniel Halpern
• Producer: Emma Watts
• Release date: November 13, 2026
• Competing project: Robert Eggers is developing his own Dickens adaptation with Willem Dafoe
• Premise: a ghost-driven redemption tale set in Dickens' London, with Depp's lead character forced to confront his past, present, and future for a second chance

Why this is a big swing for Depp

Depp hasn't had a true box office win since 2018's 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.' Since then it's been a mix of sparse output and tough results: 'The Professor,' 'City of Lies,' 'Waiting for the Barbarians,' 'Minamata,' and the French-language 'Jeanne du Barry' either fizzled or barely registered with moviegoers. His most recent directing effort, 'Modì' (aka 'Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness'), drew strong notices but didn't move the needle commercially.

That's why this one matters. 'Ebenezer' marks one of his first major studio plays since the defamation trial, and the timing is pretty telling. If he's getting slotted back into a big holiday release with a buzzy filmmaker, the door to mainstream gigs is clearly cracked back open.

Ti West doing Christmas ghosts? Sold.

West built his rep on precise, slow-burn genre work ('V/H/S,' 'The ABCs of Death,' 'In a Valley of Violence,' and the 'X' series with Mia Goth). Putting that sensibility on Dickens is a smart angle. If you're picturing a chilly, unnerving Christmas vibe instead of syrupy candlelight, you're probably in the right neighborhood.

The fan temperature

Early chatter on X leans enthusiastic. People are calling Depp as Scrooge perfect casting, predicting an unhinged take on 'Bah, humbug' and hoping for a full-blown psychological Christmas horror vibe. Some are already betting West's version outpaces Eggers' in the showdown of dueling Dickens. Fair or not, the internet loves a matchup.

What else Depp has cooking

Post-trial, Depp returned behind the camera with 'Modì,' his second directing job, headlined by Riccardo Scamarcio as Amedeo Modigliani. It hit theaters in Italy last November.

On deck: a reunion with Penelope Cruz in 'Day Drinker,' and 'Carnival: At the End of Days' alongside Adam Driver, Jeff Bridges, and Jason Momoa.

Pirates update, because of course

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer recently told EW he has talked with Depp about a possible return for 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6.'

'If he likes the way the part's written, I think he would do it. It's all about what's on the page, as we all know.'

Where Depp's head is at

In a chat with The Times U.K., Depp framed himself as a kind of test case for the #MeToo era and pushed back on the idea that he's mounting a comeback at all. In his words, he never left, and he was prepared to ride out the fight no matter how messy it got. Whether you buy the redemption arc or not, he's clearly intent on picking projects that put him back in the center ring.

The bottom line

Depp as a gnarly, reforming Scrooge under Ti West is inspired casting. With Paramount circling and a prime mid-November 2026 date, 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' is positioned as a big, eerie holiday play. Now we see if this is the one that breaks the box office cold streak.

Are you in for Depp and West tackling Dickens, or are you more curious about Eggers and Dafoe's version? Tell me where you're leaning.