There exists a distinct sense of irony surrounding Johnny Depp's much-discussed return to mainstream Hollywood filmmaking. Exclusive photographs have emerged showing the celebrated actor back on set in the United Kingdom, fully transformed into Charles Dickens' iconic anti-hero, Ebenezer Scrooge, for a fresh cinematic adaptation of A Christmas Carol. This project represents Depp's first significant big-budget film role in four years, following the intense 2022 court case where he faced allegations of abuse from his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard—a legal drama that laid bare the tumultuous nature of their former relationship.
A Striking Transformation for a Classic Role
If the Pirates of the Caribbean star is indeed in the process of reinventing his career, the 63-year-old actor appeared almost completely unrecognisable in character for this new endeavour. Johnny Depp was photographed for the first time in full Victorian costume as filming commenced on Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. The Hollywood icon looked remarkably different in his detailed period attire, even managing to crack a smile between takes alongside co-star Andrea Riseborough, who portrays the Ghost of Christmas Past.
Depp was dressed in an elaborate blue brocade overcoat and a black cap, complete with long, grey sideburns that added to his aged appearance. The actor was seen both shivering in the cold and sharing laughs between scenes with Riseborough, offering a glimpse of the off-camera camaraderie. His portrayal follows Scrooge's journey—a man existing on the fringes of society who is compelled to confront his past misdeeds before ultimately emerging as a profoundly changed individual.
An All-Star Cast and Production Details
The production boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes Sir Ian McKellen, Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley, Bohemian Rhapsody's Ellie Bamber, Harry Potter star Rupert Grint, Severance actor Tramell Tillman, and Sam Claflin, known for The Hunger Games. Andrea Riseborough, aged 44, completed her ghostly visage with an ephemeral white gown, a white wig, and what appeared to be white contact lenses to enhance the spectral effect of her character.
Charles Dickens' timeless 1843 novella centres on the elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, followed by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. This new adaptation promises a festive retelling of this classic moral tale, with early on-set images proving that even the notoriously grumpy Scrooge can display moments of levity when the cameras stop rolling.
Competitive Landscape and Depp's Perspective
However, this production faces notable competition. Warner Bros. is concurrently developing another version of A Christmas Carol, directed by Robert Eggers of Nosferatu fame and starring Willem Dafoe. This creates a unique cinematic showdown between two major interpretations of the same literary work.
Johnny Depp has publicly addressed the narrative surrounding his career in recent years, describing media reports as "fantastically, horrifically written fiction." He has firmly dismissed any suggestion that he has not been working consistently. "I've had about 17 comebacks, and I don't understand it because I didn't go anywhere," Depp remarked in 2023, adding, "It's a bizarre mystery." Aside from a role in the French-language film Jeanne du Barry, it had appeared that major Hollywood studios had largely sidelined the actor following his legal troubles.
Future Projects and Release Information
Looking ahead, Depp is also set to star alongside Penelope Cruz in the action film Day Drinker later this year. Furthermore, industry rumours suggest he is in discussions with Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer about potentially reprising his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow for a sixth instalment in the blockbuster franchise.
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is anticipated to arrive in cinemas this November, offering audiences a chance to see Depp's transformative performance in one of literature's most enduring seasonal stories.
