Hollywood star Johnny Depp faces off with supernatural forces such as the ghosts of his past, present and future in the new trailer for Ti West’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Ebenezer has been described as a dark fantasy version of Charles Dickens’ classic novella, starring award-winning actor Depp as the titular character – a bitter miser who despises Christmas.
A trailer released by Paramount Pictures UK on Friday shows Depp’s transformation into Ebenezer Scrooge, who is met with ghastly figures encouraging him to change his greedy ways before it is too late.
Trailer details
The trailer sees miserly businessman Scrooge brandishing a cane as he walks through the snowy streets of Victorian London, unnerving fellow pedestrians and an infant as he passes by. Cackles can be heard as Depp’s character walks through a wintry graveyard, and runs through a church as a crow flies towards him, before revealing the first real glimpse of him as Scrooge.
He is seen with bushy and unkempt grey eyebrows and mutton chops, and appears to be in facial prosthetics that make him look aged, with his signature look being comprised of a top hat, a scarf and a long black coat.
“It’s good to be back,” Scrooge says.
Text on screen references Depp’s prior roles in The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, Edward Scissorhands and Alice In Wonderland, and says: “He brought us Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and the Mad Hatter. This November, the master of misfits returns. Johnny Depp in the classic Christmas tale as the name you know, the story you don’t.”
Cast and other details
The trailer provides a glimpse at the cast including Star Wars: The Force Awakens actress Daisy Ridley, as well as Harry Potter star Rupert Grint – who will portray Scrooge’s underpaid employee Bob Cratchit. Oscar-nominated actress Andrea Riseborough is shown as the ghost of Christmas past in an eerie, all-white and ghastly ensemble consisting of a dress and veil, paired with entirely white eyes and skin.
Scrooge fearfully hides from the taunting spirits, and throws a heavy object at the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley – played by Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian McKellen. The trailer climaxes with further supernatural imagery, as well as clips of Scrooge falling into a grave and lying in bed as he is pulled down into a seemingly otherworldly portal.
His miserable spirit is later shown as he hides from a passer-by who is wishing him a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and yells back part of his signature catchphrase: “Bah, humbug!” The trailer ends after Scrooge throws a snowball at a couple walking down the street and chuckles evilly before saying: “Merry Christmas.”
Ebenezer is directed by US filmmaker West, who is best known for his work in horror films, having worked on The Roost and The House Of The Devil. Sam Claflin, known for The Hunger Games franchise, will also appear in the film, with Moss & Freud star Ellie Bamber and The Inbetweeners actor Henry Lloyd-Hughes. Other cast members include US actor and comedian Charlie Murphy, along with Arthur Conti and Tramell Tillman.
Earlier this year, Depp was photographed filming in London in character as Scrooge. The star also made an appearance in character at San Diego Comic Con on Thursday, and was seen showcasing his signature look – hunched over and brandishing a dripping Victorian wax candle. Videos shared to social media also show Depp as Scrooge on a A Christmas Carol-themed set, causing disruption by shouting belligerently and stealing top hats from carol singers.
Ebenezer marks his first live-action movie role since 2023. In 2022, Depp successfully sued his former partner over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser. It followed a ruling by the High Court in London in 2020 that found he assaulted Heard and left her in “fear for her life”.
Ebenezer is due for release in November this year.
