Last month came the teaser trailer for “Ebenezer,” a new take on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” from filmmaker Ti West and starring Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge.
The project is being sold as a ‘return’ of Depp, the trailer going so far as to call him the ‘Master of Misfits’, in what will be his first major studio lead role since 2018.
Paramount also spent serious coin promoting the film at San Diego Comic-Con, with Depp showing up in full costume and makeup while a pop-up store meant to represent Scrooge’s office appeared.
It turns out the studio very much believes it’s onto something. Puck News reports that a test screening of the first cut of the film in New Jersey the other week tested very high – in the 80s (meaning over 80% rated it excellent or very good).
Meanwhile Depp scored an 86 overall, and a 90 among women over 35. For comparison, the normal score on a first-cut test is around 72, and for a lead character is around 67.
The trade says studios are realising that, with his personal/legal issues now over, Depp remains a draw with a high Q Score and strong marketability. The film will be seen as something of a test case for jobs with other studios.
Costing just $40 million to make, the film’s cast also includes Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Daisy Ridley as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Also on board are Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, Sam Claflin as Fred, Charlie Murphy and Ellie Bamber as the Fezziwigs, Nicholas Day as a Minister, and Arthur Conti as a young Ebenezer.
The project has a script by Nathaniel Halpern, while Emma Watts is producing. “Ebenezer” is set for a November 13th 2026 theatrical release.
