Johnny Depp’s return to Hollywood took a surreal turn at San Diego Comic-Con, where he emerged as a grumpy, snowball-throwing Ebenezer Scrooge in a faux 1880s British village. The stunt, part of Paramount Pictures’ promotion for his upcoming film Ebenezer, saw Depp in full character, ripping garlands from a mock storefront and quipping, These are poison! Keep these away from children.
The appearance, captured by The Daily Beast and Deadline, marked Depp’s third Comic-Con visit and underscored his theatrical comeback after a tumultuous legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.
A Dark Reimagining of a Classic
Paramount’s Ebenezer, directed by Ti West (Pearl, X), reworks Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol into a horror-tinged tale. Depp’s Scrooge is tormented by spectral figures, a departure from traditional adaptations. The film’s trailer, released by Variety, shows Depp’s Scrooge hurling snowballs at passersby and muttering, It’s good to be back,
as the camera pans to a snow-covered street. The movie’s November 13 release date positions it as a holiday contender, though its horror elements set it apart from family-friendly retellings.
The project’s production history reflects Depp’s post-trial career shifts. After being replaced as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2018), Depp appeared in international films like Jeanne du Barry (2023) and directed Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness. Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, while Heard received $2 million in compensatory damages.
Comic-Con Stunt: Mocking Trump, Honoring Dickens
Depp’s Comic-Con appearance doubled as a political jab at former President Donald Trump. While in character as Scrooge, he declared, That’s on my property, which means that I own it,
before referencing Trump’s tariffs: And you’re paying tax on it being there. ‘Cause everybody has to pay all that stuff. Putting tariffs on the gate.
The crowd erupted in laughter, a nod to Trump’s revival of a 100-year-old tariff act targeting Canada with 50% levies. The moment, documented by The Daily Beast, highlighted Depp’s ongoing critique of Trump, whom he once called a “brat” in 2016 and joked about assassinating in 2017.
Depp’s performance also paid homage to Dickens’ social commentary. At one point, a period-costumed character questioned Scrooge about fair wages, prompting grumbles from the character. The stunt, organized by Paramount, recreated a Victorian Christmas village in San Diego’s Gaslamp district, blending theatricality with marketing. Depp, who has long embraced surprise appearances—like wearing Jack Sparrow’s costume to children’s hospitals—stayed in character throughout, even muttering “Humbug” to the crowd.
Legal Aftermath and Career Comeback
The Ebenezer rollout follows Depp’s high-profile 2022 trial, where Heard and Depp had both accused each other of domestic abuse during their relationship. The defamation case, detailed in Variety, reshaped Depp’s career, with Depp cut from his role as the villain Grindelwald in the third “Harry Potter” spinoff film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and replaced by Mads Mikkelsen in 2018. Since then, Depp has appeared in films like Minamata and Jeanne du Barry, with Ebenezer signaling a studio-backed revival.
Depp’s Comic-Con appearance also referenced his 2018 guerrilla theater
at a Fantastic Beasts panel, where he disrupted the event as Grindelwald. Deadline noted the stunt as a mic-drop moment,
emphasizing Depp’s enduring influence despite Hollywood’s perceived boycott. I don’t feel boycotted by Hollywood,
Depp told Deadline in 2023, though he later admitted, You’d have to not have a pulse to feel at that point, ‘None of this is happening.’
What Comes Next for Depp and ‘Ebenezer’?
With Ebenezer set for November 13, the film’s success could solidify Depp’s post-trial trajectory. Depp’s next project, Day Drinker, co-starring Madelyn Cline and Penélope Cruz, is set for release. For now, the Comic-Con stunt and trailer have reignited interest in Depp’s work, blending his theatrical flair with a reimagined Dickens classic.
The film’s reception will hinge on balancing horror elements with Dickens’ moral core. As Depp’s career navigates its post-trial phase, Ebenezer offers a chance to redefine his public image—though the shadows of the 2022 trial and Trump-era politics will linger. For now, the snow-covered streets of San Diego and the ghostly specters of A Christmas Carol remain the focus.
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