Depp to lead spooky take on Dickens classic in 'Ebenezer'

Johnny Depp will headline the upcoming horror film 'Ebenezer,' a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol.' The movie opens in theaters on Nov. 13. It reimagines the classic holiday story with a darker, supernatural tone.

Depp plays the title role of the miserly protagonist. He described the part as a lifelong ambition. 'Ebenezer Scrooge was a character that I had been fascinated by since I was a very young boy,' Depp said. He added that he remained obsessed with the 1951 version featuring Alastair Sim. 'The offer to play Ebenezer Scrooge, and you’re thinking nobody should touch this, but however, there this there’s something in you that sort of wants to go back through Dickens’ works to challenge yourself to find a way into the character that’s maybe different than it’s been done before,' Depp said.

The production leans into the supernatural elements of the original text. Andrea Riseborough, who appears in the film, noted that previous adaptations often stay close to the book. 'The adaptations of A Christmas Carol are often very true to the book, but it is called the Christmas Carol a ghost story,' Riseborough said.

Tramell Tillman, also in the cast, said the new version offers a distinct experience. 'I think this edition is a great addition to the lineup because it’s something different. It’s a lot of humanity, it’s a lot of heart, and there’s also a lot of spookiness,' Tillman said. 'There’s a spooky element to it, which makes it really fun. I mean, it is a ghost story.'

Depp credited the director for guiding the project’s unique vision. He praised the filmmaker’s ability to balance comedy with terror. 'This is well-known literature; it’s well-known stories, these are well-known characters, the courage and the bravery. His additions, his sensibilities, his vision, his understanding of very strange dynamic or bounds between humor and abject fear,' Depp said.

The special effects required extensive time to complete. Depp’s makeup for the Scrooge role took three hours. The transformation for the Ghost of Christmas Past required six and a half hours. The film is scheduled for a Nov. 13 release.