Johnny Depp Surprises Comic-Con in Full Ebenezer Scrooge Costume — Ti West’s Christmas Carol Adaptation Hits Theaters November 13

Johnny Depp Steals Comic-Con as Ebenezer Scrooge in Full Character

San Diego Comic-Con has seen its share of surprise appearances, but Thursday’s reveal was something else entirely. Johnny Depp crashed the convention in full Ebenezer Scrooge regalia to promote his upcoming film Ebenezer, a fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol directed by Ti West. And he did it entirely in character.

Depp appeared at the Collider Directors on Directing panel, walking onto the stage in a long black suit and cape, paired with a black top hat and cane, holding a single candle as he roamed the stage to a cheering crowd. His face was partially obscured by aging makeup and a scowl that would make Dickens proud. After soaking in the applause, Depp dropped two handfuls of wrapped candies on the stage and told the audience in his most monotone Scrooge delivery: “Have at it.”

The appearance marks Depp’s first Comic-Con since 2018, when he was promoting Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. It also represents his first major movie role in three years, following 2023’s Jeanne du Barry. For a star of his caliber to go this deep into character for a convention appearance signals just how committed he is to the project — and how much Paramount is betting on it as a holiday season tentpole.

The Full Scrooge Experience

Depp didn’t limit his character work to the panel stage. Outside the convention center, Paramount had set up a full facade of Scrooge & Marley’s counting house on the streets of San Diego, complete with artificial snow falling around the entrance. Depp emerged from the shop in character, interacting with surprised fans who had gathered for the installation.

When a group of passersby started singing Christmas carols near the shop front — quite out of place for a July afternoon — Depp’s Scrooge popped out of the building and yelled at them to “stop,” in full curmudgeonly fashion. He handed out more candy (some of which he decided to eat himself), called the crowd “very, very strange people,” and retreated inside with a final, definitive “Humbug.”

It was absurd, theatrical, and utterly entertaining — exactly the kind of performance that made Depp a household name in the first place.

What Is Ebenezer?

Directed by Ti West — the horror auteur behind Pearl, X, and MaXXXine — Ebenezer takes a darker approach to the classic Christmas story. West’s involvement suggests this won’t be a warm-and-fuzzy holiday adaptation. Given his track record with psychological horror and period pieces, expect a version of A Christmas Carol that leans into the story’s gothic undertones: the ghosts, the moral reckoning, the existential dread of a man confronted with his own mortality.

Paramount Pictures has set a November 13, 2026 release date for the film, positioning it as a pre-Thanksgiving counterprogramming play. That’s a strategically smart slot — it gives the movie time to build word-of-mouth before the December holiday corridor, when Christmas-themed content traditionally peaks.

The cast also includes some notable names, though Paramount has been keeping details under wraps. What’s clear from the Comic-Con presentation is that the studio is leaning into Depp’s star power and the theatricality of the material. The trailer shown at the panel — introduced by Depp in character — reportedly blends West’s signature tension-building with Dickensian period detail.

Depp’s Big-Screen Return

This is a significant moment for Depp’s film career. After a turbulent few years that saw him largely absent from Hollywood productions, Ebenezer represents a return to the kind of character-driven prestige project that built his reputation. The choice of Ti West as director is particularly interesting — West has become one of the most respected genre filmmakers working today, and his involvement gives the project immediate credibility with audiences who value bold, auteur-driven cinema.

Depp has always been at his best when playing larger-than-life characters with a dark edge. From Edward Scissorhands to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, his filmography is built on iconic, eccentric roles. Scrooge fits perfectly into that tradition — a miserly, haunted figure who undergoes a profound transformation. It’s the kind of role that allows Depp to remind audiences why he became one of the most beloved actors of his generation.

The Ti West Factor

Ti West directing a Christmas Carol adaptation is not something anyone had on their 2026 bingo card, but the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. West has built his career on subverting genre expectations — his X trilogy redefined slasher horror by grounding it in character and period detail. Applying that same approach to a literary classic like A Christmas Carol could produce something genuinely fresh.

West’s films are known for their meticulous period authenticity, slow-burn tension, and willingness to sit with uncomfortable emotions. All three qualities are perfectly suited to Dickens’ story, which is fundamentally about a man confronting the ugliest parts of himself. Where previous adaptations have leaned into the heartwarming redemption arc, West’s version will likely emphasize the psychological terror of being shown your own failures by supernatural forces.

A Comic-Con Moment to Remember

Comic-Con 2026 has already delivered several memorable moments, but Depp’s Scrooge appearance is the one everyone will be talking about. It combined the theatricality of a Hollywood premiere with the spontaneity of a fan convention — a rare intersection that reminds you why these events still matter in an increasingly digital entertainment landscape.

The fact that Depp stayed in character throughout — even during the street performance in the San Diego heat — shows a level of commitment that actors half his age rarely demonstrate. Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny the showmanship.

And honestly? After everything, it’s kind of nice to hear someone yell “Humbug” with that much conviction again.

More Depp Films to Explore

While waiting for Ebenezer, you can revisit some of Johnny Depp’s most iconic roles. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl remains the definitive Depp performance — the one that proved character actors could anchor billion-dollar franchises. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them brought his magical sensibilities to the Wizarding World, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is still one of the most entertaining blockbuster sequels ever made.

Ebenezer hits theaters on November 13, 2026, from Paramount Pictures.