Johnny Depp mounts controversial mainstream comeback with Ebenezer as first reactions drop

The Independent • November 11, 2026 • entertainment

Key Points:

Johnny Depp is making a Hollywood comeback with "Ebenezer," his first major Hollywood film since his 2022 court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, where he faced domestic abuse allegations.
Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in the new Charles Dickens adaptation directed by Ti West, featuring co-stars Rupert Grint, Daisy Ridley, and Sir Ian McKellan, with the film receiving mostly positive early reactions.
The film, backed by a $40 million budget and a strong marketing push from Paramount Pictures, is seen as a test of Depp's commercial viability following the reputational damage from the Depp vs. Heard trial.
Depp won a defamation case against Heard in 2022, receiving over $10 million in damages, though Heard was awarded $2 million for defamation by Depp’s lawyer; both parties later settled with Depp agreeing to donate $1 million from the settlement to charity.
Early reviews praise Depp’s performance and the film’s horror elements, though some critics find it unremarkable; "Ebenezer" is set to release in cinemas on 13 November.

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