Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol: Johnny Depp in Charles Dickens' classic
Robert Eggers is also currently working on a film adaptation!
One of the great Christmas classics is returning to the big screen: as the industry magazine Deadline reports, "X" director Ti West will be responsible for "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol". In the leading role: Johnny Depp!
Throughout his career, Depp has specialized in eccentric characters: from the charmingly chaotic Captain Jack Sparrow to the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland" and Willy Wonka. The role of the grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge therefore fits like a glove. Andrea Riseborough, known from "Birdman" among others, is also part of the cast.
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is one of the most adapted stories in world literature. Since it was first published in 1843, the story of the hard-hearted businessman Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas night, has been retold in countless film, theater and TV versions.
It is worth noting that "Ebenezer" will not be the only adaptation of the popular story. Warner Bros. has already announced another project – directed by Robert Eggers, the acclaimed filmmaker behind "The Lighthouse" and "Nosferatu". In this version, Willem Dafoe will take on the role of Scrooge.
While Eggers' approach appears to be aimed at a spooky ghost story set in historical London, Ti West's Ebenezer seems to focus more on the emotional and psychological journey of its protagonist. This means that two very different interpretations of the Dickens classic could dominate cinemas in 2026.
Johnny Depp: The fascinating journey of an exceptional actor
Johnny Depp has been one of Hollywood's most dazzling and versatile personalities for decades. Hardly any other actor has had such a diverse career: from eccentric outsiders to dark anti-heroes and iconic figures who have long since achieved cult status. His films are just as multifaceted as his roles – and many of them have become an integral part of modern film history. Here is a look at the most famous and influential films featuring Johnny Depp – works that have defined his career and made him a legend of modern cinema.
Edward with the Scissorhands (1990)
Edward with the Scissorhands marked the beginning of Depp's long and successful collaboration with director Tim Burton – and also one of the most emotional stories of his career. Depp plays the artificially created boy Edward, whose scissor hands make him an eternal outsider. The film combines fairy tale, melancholy and social criticism to create a unique work of art.
Depp's quiet, vulnerable portrayal made him a star in the early 1990s – and showed for the first time how much depth he can give to characters that actually seem surreal or grotesque. "Edward with the Scissor Hands" remains one of his most beloved films to this day.
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003-2017)
His greatest worldwide success is undoubtedly the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. With a mixture of slapstick, charm and madness, Depp created a character that revolutionized the pirate genre. Jack Sparrow is not a classic hero – but a chaotic but ingenious anti-hero who constantly oscillates between courage and selfishness. Depp received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the first part – unusual for a role in an adventure film. The series, which grew to five films by 2017, became a worldwide phenomenon and made Depp one of the highest-paid actors in the world.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
In "Sleepy Hollow", Depp embodies the eerily curious investigator Ichabod Crane, who investigates a series of decapitations in a foggy village. Tim Burton's visually masterful work is an homage to classic 19th century horror films. Depp imbues his character with an unusual blend of fear, intelligence and quirky humor – a perfect complement to Burton's dark aesthetic. The film cemented the creative partnership between Burton and Depp that would last for decades.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
As eccentric chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka, Depp once again showed his incomparable ability to bring quirky characters to life. His performance is at once childishly naïve, disturbing and fascinating. Directed by Tim Burton, the remake of the Roald Dahl classic turned into a colorful, surreal journey into fantasy – and one of the most striking examples of Depp's idiosyncratic acting.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Johnny Depp ventured into new territory for this dark musical adaptation: he played the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd, who murders his victims and has them turned into pies. Depp not only showed his acting skills here, but also his musical qualities – and won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his performance. "Sweeney Todd" is considered one of his most courageous films, in which he masterfully blurs the boundaries between art, horror and tragedy.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
In addition to his eccentric roles, Depp also proved his versatility in more realistic material. In "Donnie Brasco", he plays an undercover agent who infiltrates the mafia and forms a dangerous friendship with a gangster (brilliantly played by Al Pacino). The film is based on true events and features one of Depp's most nuanced performances: quiet, credible and emotionally complex. "Donnie Brasco" was a turning point in his career and showed that he could do more than just play quirky characters.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
As the Mad Hatter, Depp once again returned to Tim Burton's fantasy world – this time in a digital, colorful adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic. The film was a huge box office success and grossed over a billion dollars. Depp's Hatter is both comic and tragic – a character between genius and madness who enchants and disturbs audiences in equal measure.
Blow (2001)
In the biographical drug drama "Blow", Depp shows his serious side as George Jung, who became one of the biggest cocaine smugglers in the USA in the 1970s. The story of the rise and fall of a man obsessed with the American dream gives Depp the opportunity to show his full emotional range – from naivety to megalomania to despair. To this day, "Blow" is one of his most underrated films and proof that Depp can fascinate even without fantasy elements.
Conclusion: The eternal shape-shifter
Johnny Depp is more than just an actor – he is a chameleon who reinvents himself with every role. Whether as a romantic outsider, a dazzling pirate or a broken anti-hero – his characters are always unforgettable, always idiosyncratic, always "Depp".
Despite setbacks and controversies, he remains a permanent fixture in international cinema. And while fans eagerly await his upcoming projects such as "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol", one thing is certain: hardly anyone has shaped the magic of film like Johnny Depp – an artist between dream, madness and genius.
