Why Ian McKellen Is Praising Johnny Depp After Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol

So, apparently, we haven’t seen the last of 'A Christmas Carol'—not by a long shot. If you thought every possible version had already been squeezed out of Dickens' 1843 novella (seriously, it’s been adapted into everything short of a puppet metal opera), buckle up: horror director Ti West is doing his own twist on the material, and he’s doing it for the big studio crowd. That’s not even the weirdest part—Johnny Depp is your new Scrooge, and from the early buzz, it sounds like he’s doing more than just grumbling in a nightgown.

New Faces, Old Ghosts

'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' started shooting earlier this year, and it’s not some indie oddity tucked away off-Hollywood. This is a big Paramount-Skydance production shot on a fast track—clearly, they want this thing front and center for the holidays. You can circle November 13, 2026; that’s when this goth-tinged Dickens fever dream is set to hit theaters as one of those 'tentpole' movies studios love to hype all year.

And if you caught any leaked set pics, you already know: Depp is under so much prosthetic makeup, he looks like the love child of Gollum and Victorian misery. Not everyone would pick Johnny Depp as Scrooge post all his (very) public legal drama with Amber Heard, but apparently, studios aren’t ready to close his chapter just yet—and even his castmates are buying what he’s selling.

Seriously, Depp as Scrooge?

Pretty much everyone on the set has something to say about Depp’s performance, but Sir Ian McKellen—who, let’s face it, doesn’t rave about just anyone—flat out said he 'fell in love with' Depp while making this movie together. If that isn’t a glowing endorsement, I don’t know what is.

'I fell in love with him,' McKellen admitted, talking about working with Depp.

Here’s What We Know So Far:

• The Story: Yes, it's still 'A Christmas Carol', but this time it’s a dark gothic thriller. If you’re expecting Muppets, don’t.
• The Director: Ti West—a name horror nerds will instantly recognize. (See: 'X', 'Pearl')
• The Lead: Johnny Depp, going full Scrooge and, by the look of those prosthetics, maybe never returning.
• The Cast: Ian McKellen is also in the mix—no word yet on who he’s playing, but you can bet it’ll be memorable.
• Production Status: Shooting kicked off in early 2024 as part of Paramount-Skydance’s new aggressive slate.
• Release Date: November 13, 2026. Mark your calendar if you’re planning your weird holiday watch list already.

That’s basically what we know right now. Between Depp’s dramatic comeback, Ti West’s knack for the creepy, and the sheer audacity of rebooting Dickens—again—this one is either going to be a blast or a very strange footnote. Either way, I’ll be keeping an eye on it (and updating as soon as the next leak drops).

Stay tuned—this thing is just getting started.