Following his high-profile legal battle with his ex, Amber Heard, which dominated headlines and altered the public perception of both, Johnny Depp wisely took time away from the spotlight, having now been away from a major Hollywood production since 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. However, this month, the man behind Captain Jack Sparrow is back, headlining Ti West’s Ebenezer, the latest project based on Charles Dickens' iconic 1843 novella.
Looking to add the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge to his pantheon of memorable characters, Depp already made a surprise appearance in character during Collider's Directors on Directing Panel at San Diego Comic-Con, setting the wheels in motion for his potentially glorious comeback to the Hollywood spotlight. Ahead of the film's scheduled release by Paramount Pictures on November 13, 2026, the first response from critics is officially in, but what exactly are they saying about Depp's return?
"Johnny Depp is magnetic throughout Scrooge’s soft redemption arc leading to a finale that delivers more emotional resonance than its predecessors," wrote UK Film Critic Phil Roberts, who was one of many impressed by Depp's typically energetic performance. Ebenezer is a "wickedly fun holiday treat and strong comeback vehicle for its star," according to FilmSpeak’s chief film critic, Tom Chatalbash, adding that "Depp is a fiendish delight as Scrooge."
Not every critic was blown away by Depp's comeback. Critic Ren Vieira said that "nothing’s distinct or unique about this version," adding, "it’s just Depp doing cooky Scrooge, nothing more than his old tricks." Critic and writer MaryAnn Johanson said the film was "Utterly superfluous," with Robert Ortiz saying, "the film commits 2 sins of being forgettable and just boring, especially if you’ve seen a Christmas carol before."
Following the release of Ebenezer, the Depp comeback train is only just starting its journey. On March 26, 2027, Depp will star in Day Drinker, an action thriller directed by Marc Webb, who will be hoping for his own comeback after helming the disastrous live-action Snow White remake in 2025. Depp will star alongside Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), upcoming Oscars hopeful Penélope Cruz (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), and Manu Ríos (Elite) in Day Drinker.
For all the latest updates, make sure to stay tuned to Collider.
