Johnny Depp to star in "A Christmas Carol" with the master of horror behind the camera

Paramount Pictures has prepared a surprise for fans of Charles Dickens's prose. The studio is preparing a new adaptation of the iconic "A Christmas Carol," starring Johnny Depp. For the Hollywood actor, it will mark a return to the Dream Factory following his infamous lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, following her accusations of domestic violence.

Johnny Depp's Hollywood absence appears to be coming to an end. One of America's most popular actors has temporarily stepped into the spotlight due to a legal battle with his ex-wife, fellow actor Amber Heard, who publicly accused him of abusing her.

Depp sued his former lover for defamation, resulting in a six-week, televised trial. In June 2022, a jury ruled in favor of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, finding Heard guilty as charged.

The feuding ex-spouses later reached a settlement in which the actress paid Depp one million dollars instead of the amount awarded to him, which was more than 10 times higher.

If the latest reports are to be believed, the Golden Globe winner is preparing for a major return to the Dream Factory. Deadline reports that he is on the verge of signing on to star in a new film adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic 1843 social and moral novel, "A Christmas Carol." The iconic work by the English master of the genre tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge – an introverted, shy miser who hates Christmas.

During the holidays, the character undergoes a transformation under the influence of the ghosts that haunt him. Depp will portray the titular Scrooge in the upcoming film "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol."

The film is being produced by one of Hollywood's largest studios, Paramount Pictures.

"This gripping ghost story, set in Dickensian London, follows the extraordinary journey of a man fighting for a second chance and facing his past, present, and future," a source told the website.

Horror filmmaker Ti West, creator of the "X" trilogy and the acclaimed horror film "MaXXXine," will be behind the camera, with a script by Nathaniel Halpern. Depp will be joined by British actress Andrea Riseborough, star of "Black Mirror," "Oblivion," and the moving drama "For Leslie," for which she received an Oscar nomination two years ago.

This will be Johnny Depp's first Hollywood production since 2018, when Heard was removed from the cast of "Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore's Mysteries" following accusations.

The 62-year-old actor most recently starred in the critically acclaimed French costume drama "The Boleyn Woman," directed by Jeanne du Barry. In a few months, he will be seen opposite Penelope Cruz in the thriller "Day Drinker," which began filming this spring.

The premiere of the new, dark adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" is scheduled for November 13, 2026. This is not the only upcoming film adaptation of Dickens's novel – Robert Eggers is also preparing his own adaptation, with Willem Dafoe set to play the lead role.