Skydance’s David Ellison Making Johnny Depp Great Again

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Johnny Depp is officially back in the studio spotlight.

With David Ellison now leading Skydance, Paramount Pictures will produce a fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, titled Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp as the iconic Scrooge.

Depp’s returns as Ebenezer Scrooge

The Hollywood Reporter says Paramount is close to finalizing a deal for the project, which will be directed by horror director Ti West, known for films like X, Pearl, and MaXXXine. They’re currently aiming to release the movie on November 13, 2026.

Andrea Riseborough will star alongside Johnny Depp in a new film written by Nathaniel Halpern. The movie is a suspenseful ghost story set in Victorian London, and it follows a man’s otherworldly quest to confront his life and try to redeem himself.

THR makes a point of stating in the article:

Johnny Depp is back in a major movie role, marking his biggest project since the highly publicized and difficult legal battle with his former wife, Amber Heard.

David Ellison, the new head of Paramount Pictures, is close to finalizing a deal for a fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol.

From Hollywood’s Outcast to Redemption

This project represents Johnny Depp’s most significant return to studio films since losing roles in major franchises following his legal disputes with Amber Heard. He was once a highly successful and reliable box office draw, known for films like Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, his Hollywood career stalled after the highly publicized defamation lawsuits in the U.S. and the U.K.

Following his dismissal from the Fantastic Beasts franchise in 2020, Johnny Depp began working in European films, most notably appearing in Jeanne du Barry, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.

What’s Next for Depp

Besides Ebenezer, Johnny Depp has just finished filming Day Drinker for Lionsgate, a thriller scheduled to come out in 2026.

There’s growing speculation that Johnny Depp might reprise his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the next Pirates of the Caribbean film, potentially marking a major career resurgence. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has stated that Depp is interested in returning to the franchise.

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2025-10-24 00:01