Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has inspired countless adaptations over the decades, but Ti West’s Ebenezer appears determined to take the familiar story into far darker territory. The newly released official trailer suggests this is not simply another festive retelling. Instead, it leans heavily into supernatural horror, placing terrifying ghosts at the centre of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey toward redemption.
With Johnny Depp leading the cast, Paramount Pictures is marketing the film with the tagline, “The name you know. The story you don’t.” Another promotional line, “Before he was Scrooge… He was EBENEZER,” hints that audiences will see a deeper exploration of the character’s past alongside the classic ghost story.
Comic-Con brought no shortage of major franchise reveals this year, including a bold reimagining of another beloved sci-fi universe. That trailer is covered in Blade Runner 2099 Just Flipped the Franchise Forever — Why the New Prime Video Series Changes Everything We Thought We Knew.
Ti West’s Ebenezer Release Date, Cast and Official Film Details
| Category | Official Details |
| Film Title | Ebenezer (also titled Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol) |
| Director | Ti West |
| Screenplay | Nathaniel Halpern |
| Based On | Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol |
| Producer | Emma Watts (Wattsco / IN.2 Film) |
| Distributor | Paramount Pictures |
| Theatrical Release | November 13, 2026 |
| Filming | Began January 2026 in Dublin and London |
| Cinematography | Checco Varese |
| Genre | Period fantasy with horror elements |
According to Paramount’s official synopsis, Ebenezer is “a thrilling ghost story set in Dickens’ London, following one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present, and future as he fights for a second chance at redemption.”
Rather than positioning itself as a straightforward Christmas film, the project blends period fantasy with clear horror influences. Spectral figures, distorted bodies, bleak interiors and blood-red marketing text all point toward a much darker interpretation. That creative direction is hardly surprising given director Ti West’s background with films such as X, Pearl, MaXXXine and The House of the Devil. West has also said that early adaptations of A Christmas Carol played a major role in shaping his lifelong fascination with horror and ghost stories.
Other unsettling first looks have also generated plenty of buzz this Comic-Con season, including a chilling supernatural thriller starring an actress known for eerie roles. That trailer is detailed in Other Mommy Trailer Has Horror Fans Looking Twice at Jessica Chastain’s Creepiest Role Yet — Everything We Know About the 2026 Supernatural Thriller.
Johnny Depp Leads an All-Star Cast in Ti West’s Ebenezer
Johnny Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, portraying the miserly businessman through heavy makeup, a balding appearance and an especially cantankerous personality. Arthur Conti plays the younger Ebenezer, supporting the film’s expanded focus on Scrooge’s earlier life.
The supporting cast includes:
- Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge
- Arthur Conti as Young Ebenezer
- Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley
- Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit
- Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past
- Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present
- Daisy Ridley as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
- Sam Claflin as Fred
- Ellie Bamber as Isabel Fezziwig
- Charlie Murphy
- Henry Lloyd-Hughes
Literary adaptations have taken center stage in more than one blockbuster this year, including an ambitious retelling of an ancient epic from one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed directors. That story is explored in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Review: Is This the Definitive Homer Adaptation or Nolan’s Most Divisive Epic Yet?.
Official Ebenezer Trailer Reveals a Horror-Tinged Reimagining of A Christmas Carol
Released around July 23–24, 2026, during San Diego Comic-Con, the approximately 1:20–1:22 official trailer immediately establishes a darker tone than many previous adaptations.
It opens with Depp’s Scrooge roaming snowy Victorian London, shouting “Bah! Humbug!”, throwing snowballs and confronting those around him with an unusually aggressive attitude. The trailer even includes the meta-flavoured line, “It’s good to be back,” while promotional material describes Depp’s return with “The Master of Misfits Returns,” referencing beloved roles such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland.
Classic Dickens imagery remains intact, but West layers it with horror aesthetics. Blood-red lettering, shadow-filled streets, unsettling spectral figures and sudden movements dominate the footage.
One particularly notable moment pays homage to Depp’s film debut in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), showing Scrooge sinking into his bed in a sequence reminiscent of Glen Lantz’s famous death scene, albeit in a milder form.
Although the trailer follows the familiar structure of ghostly visitations forcing Scrooge to confront his past, present and future, the marketing promises a fresh reimagining that appears to expand significantly on young Ebenezer’s origins.
Interestingly, big-budget epics aren’t the only ones tackling ambitious storytelling this year, as an ultra-low-budget AI-generated film has also drawn attention for competing with a major studio release. That story is covered in AI’s $50K ‘Odyssey’ Takes on Christopher Nolan’s $250 Million Epic Days Before Release.
The Ghosts Become the True Stars of Ti West’s Ebenezer
Perhaps the trailer’s biggest surprise is its treatment of the ghosts.
Rather than acting as eccentric guides, the spirits are presented as frightening supernatural forces. This approach aligns with both West’s horror background and Dickens’ original subtitle, “A Ghost Story of Christmas.”
Their visual designs intentionally draw from John Leech’s original first-edition illustrations for A Christmas Carol. Those iconic engravings, created with Dickens’ involvement, helped shape Victorian ideas of ghostly imagery and continue to influence adaptations today.
Each spirit receives a distinctive interpretation.
Ian McKellen’s Jacob Marley closely mirrors Leech’s artwork, complete with chains, bound jaw and spectral appearance as he warns Scrooge about the three spirits yet to come.
Andrea Riseborough’s Ghost of Christmas Past represents the film’s biggest departure from Dickens. Instead of the novella’s shifting figure combining childlike and elderly traits, she appears in a fixed adult female form with pale skin, unsettling movements and ghostly clothing. Her repeated appearances alongside both young and older Scrooge suggest a more personal role in revisiting forgotten memories.
Tramell Tillman’s Ghost of Christmas Present has been confirmed, although the trailer offers fewer specific details beyond maintaining the film’s unsettling supernatural atmosphere.
Daisy Ridley’s Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come closely resembles Leech’s hooded, silent figure. Early footage and reports highlight the terrifying, death-like appearance that dominates the trailer’s closing moments.
Additional phantom figures also echo Leech’s original designs, reinforcing West’s commitment to historical horror iconography. Rather than offering gentle lessons, these spirits appear determined to make Scrooge’s redemption painful and deeply unsettling.
Marvel’s own Comic-Con presence also generated significant buzz this year, with concept art offering the first proper look at one of its most anticipated villains. That reveal is detailed in Avengers: Doomsday Official Concept Art Reveals Doctor Doom’s Epic First Look as Marvel Unites Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men.
Why Ebenezer Could Be One of 2026’s Most Unusual Holiday Films
First announced by Paramount Pictures in October 2025, Ebenezer assembled its cast later that year before beginning production in January 2026 across Dublin and London.
Although some marketing has emphasised Scrooge’s earlier life, the film is not positioned as a pure prequel. Dickens’ original novella already explores his past through the Ghost of Christmas Past, but Ti West’s version appears ready to expand those formative years while preserving the classic supernatural journey toward redemption.
With its theatrical release set for November 13, 2026, Ebenezer looks set to arrive during the Thanksgiving window rather than Christmas itself. Based on the official trailer, audiences can expect a gothic, horror-infused take on one of literature’s most enduring holiday stories.
Sci-fi fans have plenty else to look forward to before the year is out as well, including a recent theatrical release that has now made its way to streaming. That story is featured in Project Hail Mary Is Finally Streaming on Prime Video: Everything to Know About Ryan Gosling’s 2026 Sci-Fi Hit Before You Watch
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