Summary
- Johnny Depp returns to the screen as Ebenezer Scrooge.
- Ti West’s «Ebenezer» opens on November 13, 2026.
- It launches at 634 cinema sites in the UK and Ireland.
- The production combines Victorian sets, practical makeup and a supernatural atmosphere.
Johnny Depp returns to a major Hollywood studio production with «Ebenezer», a darker new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ «A Christmas Carol» opening today, November 13, 2026.
Paramount is releasing the film in 634 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, according to theatrical distribution figures. Its starting point is the familiar story of Ebenezer Scrooge, but director Ti West places more emphasis on the gothic and supernatural elements.
The first «Ebenezer» trailer had already made the tone clear. Now the film is moving from promotion to the big screen.
Johnny Depp takes on Ebenezer Scrooge
Depp plays the bitter, miserly Scrooge, who is confronted on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and three spirits. His journey through the past, present and future forces him to confront his actions and seek a second chance.
The cast includes Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley, Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, alongside Sam Claflin and Daisy Ridley. Nathaniel Halpern wrote the screenplay.
The film marks Depp’s return to a leading role in a major US studio production. He also has the upcoming thriller «Day Drinker» with Penélope Cruz.
How Ti West built Victorian London
For the filmmaker behind «X», «Pearl» and «MaXXXine», Dickens’ ghosts are more than decoration: they allow the story to move between drama and horror. Cinematography, costumes, atmosphere and production design all contribute to that approach.
Production designer Eve Stewart’s team built Victorian London streets at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The crew created individually stamped concrete cobblestones, detailed storefronts and a towering Christmas tree assembled from nine trees, while visual effects extended the environment beyond the physical set.
Andrea Riseborough’s ghostly transformation required around five hours of preparation each day. For the street scenes, the cast sang Christmas carols live amid artificial snow and fog, helping the production sound connect to the actual performances.
Release and theatrical rollout
The official US and UK theatrical release date is Friday, November 13, 2026. The film opens at 634 UK and Ireland cinema sites. Its running time is approximately 116 minutes and its US rating is PG-13 for frightening material. The sources reviewed did not confirm a specific Greek theatrical release date.
What we think
The attraction here goes beyond Johnny Depp’s return. Ti West takes a story most of us know and pulls it closer to horror cinema without abandoning its central idea: a person forced to confront what he has done.
For filmmakers and image-makers, the production methods are especially interesting. Physical sets at Chatham, elaborate makeup and performances staged in snow and fog give the actors a tangible space to inhabit rather than relying entirely on digital scenery.
West’s style could give Dickens’ story a different kind of tension. The key creative question is whether the frightening imagery still leaves enough space for Scrooge’s emotional change — the element that has kept this story alive for generations.
