First 'Ebenezer' Trailer Reveals Johnny Depp's Reboot of Iconic Character

Throughout his decades-long career, Johnny Depp has helped create some of the most iconic characters in all of cinema. One of his most iconic creations came in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, with his Jack Sparrow arguably being one of the most famous movie figures of this century. Years earlier, he also gave us the tortured Edward Scissorhands, marking only one of many acclaimed collaborations with Tim Burton.

Depp isn’t only known for his original characters, however, as he’s also managed to put his own spin on figures whose history spans decades. He’s given us unique takes on Willy Wonka for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He’s even become a defining example of real-world figures after playing the titular character in Ed Wood and Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. His latest project sees him embodying one of the most iconic characters in both literature and cinema.

In Ebenezer, Depp will play Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The first trailer for the new movie has been released, which you can see below.

Paramount Pictures teases the new movie, “The name you know, the story you don’t.” Also starring in Ebenezer are Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, with Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen.

Ever since the announcement of Ebenezer, we’ve been quite curious about how the project would shape up. Firstly, it marks one of the most high-profile opportunities Depp has earned in recent years, following his controversial and highly publicized divorce from Amber Heard. Given that he was previously one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, there was a clear fallout from the split, which even included his Gellert Grindelwald being recast for the final Fantastic Beasts film.

Another element that makes Ebenezer so intriguing is that it comes from director Ti West, largely known for his horror movies like X, Pearl, and MaXXXine. Like Depp, this is similarly West’s most high-profile project in recent years, though it’s not due to any controversies holding him back, more that he comes from the world of indie horror.

Based on West’s horror background, many thought Ebenezer would be a darker take on the material than we’ve previously been given, though this first look at the movie confirms that there will be plenty of absurdity. If there will also be darker elements to juxtapose that silliness is yet to be revealed. For those who wanted a much darker take on Scrooge, you can always revisit the two-part A Christmas Carol from Andy Serkis that stars Guy Pearce that fully leans into the unsettling elements of the source material.