Paramount is Betting Johnny Depp Can Make a Comeback With ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol’
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Johnny Depp is making a major Hollywood comeback with Paramount Pictures casting him as the lead in the upcoming film "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol," marking his first Hollywood movie in nearly eight years.
- Depp's career declined after domestic abuse allegations and a high-profile 2022 defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, which he won, but the controversy affected his roles in major franchises like "Fantastic Beasts" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."
- Paramount is positioning Depp as a central figure for their Thanksgiving release, signaling confidence that audiences are ready to welcome him back despite past controversies.
- There is uncertainty about whether younger audiences, particularly Gen Z who are familiar with Depp more through the trial and social media than his films, will support the holiday movie starring Depp.
