Johnny Depp is about to step into one of his most haunting roles yet: a man who must face the ghosts of his past, present, and future in a chilling retelling of a timeless story. Set in the eerie streets of Dickensian London, this upcoming film reimagines a beloved classic in a way audiences have never seen before.
But who is Depp playing, and why is this project being called his biggest Hollywood return in years?
Johnny Depp’s Long-Awaited Hollywood Comeback
It’s been quite some time since Johnny Depp starred in a big Hollywood movie. After appearing in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald‘ and ‘Waiting for the Barbarians,’ he mostly stayed away from major studio films. Instead, he worked on smaller projects like the French movie ‘Jeanne du Barry‘ and directed ‘Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness,’ which will hit U.S. theaters on November 7.
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Depp’s time away from Hollywood followed his widely publicized defamation case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. But after a series of appeals, the two reached a settlement, with Heard agreeing to pay Depp $1 million; a sum he pledged to donate to various charities. Now, after a period of reflection, Depp appears ready to return to Hollywood’s main stage.
Johnny Depp To Star As Scrooge In ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol’
Depp, 62, has officially signed on to play Ebenezer Scrooge in ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol.’ However, Charles Dickens’ beloved novella is getting a horror makeover this time. It follows one man’s supernatural journey through his past, present, and future as he fights for redemption and a second chance.
The story of Scrooge has been told many times before. From Alastair Sim’s 1951 classic ‘Scrooge‘ to ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol‘ starring Michael Caine and Jim Carrey’s 2009 animated version. But this time, the tale will take on a much darker and more haunting tone. According to Deadline, the movie will be “a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens’ London.”
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Interestingly, ‘Nosferatu‘ director Robert Eggers is also making his own version of ‘A Christmas Carol‘ for Warner Bros. But there, Willem Dafoe is in talks to play Scrooge. But Depp’s film is expected to dive deeper into the gothic and emotional side of the story.
The movie will be directed by Ti West, best known for his horror hits ‘X,’ ‘Pearl,’ and ‘MaXXXine.’ Starring alongside Depp will be Oscar-nominated actress Andrea Riseborough, who earned acclaim for her performance in ‘To Leslie.’ And given Depp’s history of bringing depth and mystery to eccentric characters, this role feels perfectly aligned with his strengths.
Much like Scrooge, there have been a lot of ups and downs in Depp’s life as well. So, who can be better than him to tell a story about second chances?
