Full Breakdown
Johnny Depp’s In-Character Comic-Con Stunt Highlights Return with **“Ebenezer”**
7/24/2026, 11:58:46 AM
Core Event: Surprise Scrooge Appearance at San Diego Comic-Con
On July 23, 2026, the San Diego Comic-Con streets of the Gaslamp Quarter filled with fans as Johnny Depp emerged from a faux 1880s British Christmas village in full Ebenezer Scrooge costume. The unannounced activation, staged by Paramount Pictures, placed the actor in a top hat, cane and prosthetic gray facial hair. After greeting the crowd with the line “Have you no lives?” he delivered a brief, in-character monologue, handed out candy, and later took the stage in Hall H to introduce the first trailer for the upcoming film “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.”
Background & Context
Depp’s appearance marks his first major Hollywood studio role since the 2019 release of *Waiting for the Barbarians*. The hiatus followed a highly publicized defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, which concluded in 2022 with a jury finding Heard liable for defamation and awarding Depp compensatory and punitive damages. After the verdict, Depp’s career shifted to independent and international projects, including *Minamata* and *Jeanne du Barry*. Paramount Pictures announced that *“Ebenezer”* will serve as his comeback vehicle, pairing him with director Ti West—known for horror titles such as *X* and *Pearl*—and a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern adapted from Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella *A Christmas Carol*.
Data & Statistics
- Release date: November 13, 2026 (theatrical).
- Studio: Paramount Pictures.
- Director: Ti West.
- Screenwriter: Nathaniel Halpern.
- Principal cast: Johnny Depp (Ebenezer Scrooge), Rupert Grint (Bob Cratchit), Andrea Riseborough (Ghost of Christmas Past), Tramell Tillman (Ghost of Christmas Present), Ian McKellen (Jacob Marley), Daisy Ridley (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), Sam Claflin, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy.
On-the-Ground Reports
The Hall H trailer debut concluded with Depp’s Scroge line, “It’s good to be back,” a double nod to both the character’s return and the actor’s career resurgence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I fell in love with him,” — Ian McKellen
- “It really has been an extraordinary privilege,” — Johnny Depp
- “I would have asked him where The Muppets were.” — Another
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources uniformly describe *“Ebenezer”* as Depp’s first major studio film since 2019, but some outlets note the 2022 defamation trial as the pivotal turning point. No substantive disagreement appears regarding the film’s release date, cast, or promotional strategy. Further details on the film’s tone and box-office expectations remain unconfirmed pending additional studio disclosures.
