Johnny Depp Stars in Dark Dickens Adaptation 'Ebenezer'

Johnny Depp leads the cast in Ebenezer, a new film adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novella A Christmas Carol directed by horror filmmaker Ti West. Written by Nathaniel Halpern, the film blends traditional Victorian dialogue with spooky practical effects and dark narrative beats.

For fans of holiday classics and genre cinema, the production brings key character expansions to the familiar tale. Ellie Bamber plays Scrooge's early love interest Belle, who is reimagined as a fledgling writer, while Sam Claflin appears as Scrooge's nephew Fred. The spectral lineup includes Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past and Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present. West's direction emphasizes intense ghost sequences while maintaining the novella's traditional structure, using Dickens' original chapter markers, or Staves.

While the film heavily incorporates original prose from Dickens, it also introduces starkly irreverent moments, including a scene where Depp's character literally urinates on screen.

What to Watch Next

Film enthusiasts interested in dark literary adaptations can follow upcoming release schedules for West's latest directorial effort.