Johnny Depp appears ready to step back into the Hollywood spotlight with his first big-budget role since his legal disputes with ex-wife Amber Heard. According to industry reports, the 62-year-old actor is in advanced negotiations to play the lead in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, a reimagining of Dickens’ timeless ghost story.
The project, backed by Paramount Pictures, is described as a dark and thrilling retelling set in Victorian London, following one man’s supernatural journey through his past, present and future. Actress Andrea Riseborough is also attached to the film.
If finalized, the role would mark Depp’s most significant studio project since his career was derailed by controversy and high-profile court cases. After losing a libel case in the UK in 2020, Depp faced major setbacks, including being dropped from Fantastic Beasts and Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. However, his fortunes shifted in 2022 when he won a defamation trial in the United States, sparking a gradual comeback.
Since then, Depp has focused on European cinema, music and art. His French-language film Jeanne du Barry premiered at Cannes in 2023 to a standing ovation, while his fragrance partnership with Dior Sauvage became one of the most lucrative deals in the industry. He also directed Modi, a biopic starring Al Pacino and Stephen Graham, which is set for release on November 7.
Beyond film, Depp has been active in the art world, preparing his exhibition A Bunch of Stuff for Tokyo later this year. He is also currently filming Day Drinker alongside Penélope Cruz.
Reflecting on his turbulent years, Depp recently admitted that the legal battles nearly ended his career. “I was shunned, dumped, cancelled, however you want to define it,” he told The Telegraph. Yet, he insists the ordeal taught him more than he ever imagined.
With Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, Depp seems poised to reclaim his place in Hollywood, signaling a new chapter in a career once thought to be over.