Johnny Depp Turns Ebenezer Scrooge Into A Darker Christmas Nightmare In New Ebenezer Trailer

“Walk with me into your past...” “I shall not leave this bed!” Paramount Pictures has unveiled the second official trailer for Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, giving Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas classic a much darker, grumpier and supernatural makeover. Directed by horror filmmaker Ti West, the film promises to take audiences into a chilling version of Dickens’ London, where Christmas cheer comes with a serious dose of ghosts, horror and black comedy. With the tagline “The name you know, the story you don’t,” the movie is set to bring a familiar tale back to the big screen with a very different mood.

At the centre of this twisted Christmas story is Johnny Depp, who returns to the big screen as Ebenezer Scrooge. This version of Scrooge is described as a stingy, penny-pinching, cantankerous and lonely old man whose hatred for Christmas and everything associated with happiness has made him bitter and isolated. But his miserable existence takes a supernatural turn when he is forced to confront the ghosts of his past, present and future. Rather than simply retelling the classic tale, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol appears to lean heavily into its darker elements, turning Scrooge’s journey toward redemption into an eerie ghost story.

The second trailer hints at a haunting journey through Victorian London as Scrooge comes face-to-face with the consequences of his choices. The film retains the central idea of Dickens’ 1843 novel, but Ti West’s horror background suggests that audiences can expect plenty of unsettling atmosphere alongside the familiar Christmas fantasy. The director is known for films including The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers, The Sacrament and the horror trilogy X, Pearl and MaXXXine, making his take on A Christmas Carol an intriguing departure from the more traditional adaptations.

Johnny Depp is joined by an impressive British ensemble, including Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Charlie Murphy. Tramell Tillman is also part of the cast, while Ian McKellen takes on the iconic role of Jacob Marley. Marley’s appearance is one of the defining supernatural moments of Dickens’ original story, and his presence in this new adaptation sets the stage for Scrooge’s terrifying journey through the three stages of his life.

The screenplay for Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol has been written by Nathaniel Halpern, known for his work on shows including Legion, Outcast, Tales from the Loop and Resurrection. Emma Watts is producing the film, which is being made by Paramount and Green Bean Pictures. With Ti West bringing his distinctive genre sensibilities to one of literature’s most famous Christmas stories, the movie looks ready to mix dark comedy, supernatural horror and Christmas fantasy into one unusual package.

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is scheduled to arrive in US theatres nationwide on November 13, 2026, just ahead of the Thanksgiving season. While the story of Scrooge, Marley and the three ghosts has been told countless times, this version is clearly aiming for something more sinister and unpredictable. With Johnny Depp stepping into the shoes of the famously miserable Scrooge and Ti West behind the camera, Ebenezer could offer audiences a Christmas classic with a decidedly spooky twist.