Depp’s Back to Being Scrooge-y
Johnny Depp has resurfaced in a very grumpy Victorian coat: he’s playing Ebenezer Scrooge in Ti West’s new take on A Christmas Carol. If you were waiting for Depp to pop back into a strange period role, consider your wish granted.
Trailer Snapshot: Ghosts, Guilt and Grim Holiday Vibes
The first trailer landed and it’s equal parts spooky and sentimental. We get Depp as the curmudgeonly miser who hates Christmas, then — cue the spectral intervention — the usual parade of phantoms shows up to shake his bones and his memory. It feels eerie without losing the story’s heart.
Ti West Goes Dickensian
Known for his horror trilogy, West steers this version into moody, foggy London territory. The film leans into the Victorian setting and the idea that one stubborn man can be pulled backward and forward through the wreckage of his life — and maybe, just maybe, learn to be nicer.
Supporting Cast Brings Big-Franchise Energy
West didn’t skimp on recognizable faces. The movie lines up actors who’ve popped up in major franchises: Rupert Grint, Daisy Ridley and Sam Claflin all show up, plus Charlie Murphy from Peaky Blinders. Expect familiar vibes in new costumes.
Where and When You’ll See It
The film — titled simply Scrooge in France — is set to hit theaters there on November 11. No U.S. date was announced with the trailer, so international fans might get a peek before the rest of us catch it on the big screen.
Depp’s Recent Work and a Little Context
This marks Depp’s return to feature films after his 2023 turn as Louis XV in Jeanne du Barry. Teaming with an auteur like West signals a darker, quirkier holiday ride rather than a sugar-coated yuletide romp.
Also on the Dickens Radar
And if you can’t get enough Dickens reboots: another adaptation was announced in June 2025 from Robert Eggers, so the classic tale is getting more than one modern spin. Two very different filmmakers tackling the same ghost story? That should be fun to compare.
Why This One Matters
What’s intriguing here isn’t just the celebrity casting — it’s the tonal mix. West’s horror pedigree plus a melancholic holiday staple suggests this version will play up the unsettling parts of Scrooge’s transformation while still offering the emotional payoff the story promises.
The Takeaway
Expect a moody, slightly creepy Christmas story that leans into character and atmosphere, with Depp chewing scenery in a way only he can. If you love Dickens with a side of gothic flair, this trailer just gave you holiday homework.