# Johnny Depp is unrecognizable in new Ebenezer trailer featuring Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint, and Ian McKellen

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-01 22:20 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Johnny Depp returns to Hollywood studio films after eight years in the first trailer for 'Ebenezer,' a spooky reimagining of 'A Christmas Carol.'

## Intelligence Brief
The entertainment industry is reacting to the release of the first trailer for 'Ebenezer,' a film directed by Ti West that offers a remake of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol.' The production features Johnny Depp in the lead role as Scrooge, appearing in a manner described as nearly unrecognizable. The trailer introduces a supporting cast that includes actors Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint, and Ian McKellen. According to reports from Yahoo, the trailer adopts a spooky tone, incorporating the ominous line, 'Your nightmare has just begun.' Multiple entertainment outlets have focused on the visual transformation of the lead actor and the specific nature of the production. Entertainment Weekly and Yahoo emphasize that Depp is unrecognizable in the footage. Variety highlights a significant industry milestone, noting that this project marks Johnny Depp's first Hollywood studio movie in eight years.


Meanwhile, Deadline identifies the film as a Dickens remake under the direction of Ti West, and A.V. Club suggests that the full trailer resembles other existing adaptations of the Christmas Carol story. Contextually, this release is significant due to the long gap since Depp's last appearance in a major Hollywood studio production. The choice of Ti West as director suggests a specific stylistic approach to the source material, moving toward a darker or more frightening interpretation of the classic holiday tale. The inclusion of high-profile actors like Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint, and Daisy Ridley indicates a large-scale casting effort for this particular reimagining of the Scrooge narrative.


Future attention will likely center on how this specific version of the story differs from previous iterations, given the A.V. Club's observation of its similarities to other carols. Observers will be watching for more details regarding the spooky elements mentioned by Yahoo and the overall reception of Depp's return to the studio system. As the film progresses toward release, the industry will monitor the impact of Ti West's direction on the reimagined Dickens classic.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| A.V. Club | Full Ebenezer trailer looks a whole lot like the other Christmas Carols | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiUEFVX3lxTE5DOWs5V2dmWWFTUllLNlZrbGh4dEZxMnNoU0MtZDJtRHd0ODk1UDZCU0NfaFR6UHc1N1M5c1hORWt0UnpxeHB3dVc1NDh6VHlr?oc=5) |
| Variety | ‘Ebenezer’ New Trailer: Johnny Depp’s First Hollywood Studio Movie in 8 Years Reimagines ‘A Christmas Carol’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxOVGdsMnFVdVpLN2RWM2RJa3BzcUx3MmlsOVZERTlXLXpvRnNwUzBIaWV5UHBrQ0RjOXNEOTd4eUFsdFRhdHlocHQ2ZzNTelVCY0R4dEJ6NjM3NnVxUE53WHg2SlFLZGJvWUhNb0M5MjNDY2lPRzY5SGJYd2gyZU1KaF9RVlppRDB3NE9zQ2pXQUxpcUpSWTdPd2UtRGZjd00tRFJHNlRKZW9HdUVhMHc?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Johnny Depp is nearly unrecognizable as Scrooge in spooky 'Ebenezer' trailer: 'Your nightmare has just begun' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi_wFBVV95cUxOSEJRcDRWb0hReUxfcUJvLV9rVWdoOXVZWEMtaFZfeWNCRHB4NHJmcm96aVpCZHBZTFVSb19RWFpCOFNzMXVzbURWMk5rdUdQUFpmZVpuTzc3TkZZZTFQa2dlNmh4WTlBWVVLZTFFekxJU2hhR2k1UG1wVWV3Y2t1OEZfQndDaTdFX3RLMmRLNW53QXBYMl90bkY3c2RKbGM1OUJENV96bHJxaWpBTFAzOGlWc20wZkVIUFlGN1NiQkNIZWNVUHNmcXozVk5SNEF3YXVRYV9tOE5qdDlTVmJyd0dzYTlvLXBmajBsYldYcTQzN0VTOVJuZmxQazJjVnM?oc=5) |
| Deadline | ‘Ebenezer’ Trailer: Johnny Depp Leads Ti West’s Dickens Remake | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMieEFVX3lxTE9XeDFFMDI3aV9UdFMwZHM0LU9oZEhxNThQcnBKU3JGYTNwNWQxX0pwV2RtclpRdDJaUnV2UWVoSms2X2lHczdaMVh5aXlwLU9ZSnluS0lhRnU3Z0FRVmJCS1R1cm83RG1RNTJUYllYeFk0eERCM1hmOQ?oc=5) |
| Entertainment Weekly | Johnny Depp is unrecognizable in new Ebenezer trailer featuring Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint, and Ian McKellen | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxNSmRiOC1jZnZQblBkN2pvUnYyNVM4VS1uWkdqcm4zb21sNlZROFV2Rk9wY29mM3hZdnpqcmVrSGtwcmUyazBaREhPVVdaUV9weDNKOUhBQUQ1QjVIUlR0MnBDNWFyam5TYk9DYURudXpzWXJ6YkVOcmVRVGpVMG8wZThCbkNUSXlwd1lLNWpPaDNnTVJtNG1hTXdBQklvVWMyTkJjd0NDbkkzeUVqUVdWdk94Q1g3QzZHdmE2WVFjZHg?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-01/johnny-depp-is-unrecognizable-in-new-ebenezer-trailer-featuring-daisy-ridley*