It’s been quite a while since Johnny Depp and Amber Heard had a very messy, public outing of their private lives, which resulted in many discussions on their public images. However, Depp says that he is not the same person he was before and the Pirates of the Caribbean star is determined with back the hearts of audiences. His comeback was a slow one that started with the French film Jeanne Du Barry, but he is picking up the pace with Ebenezer this holiday season and Day Drinker next year.
Ebenezer is a new take on A Christmas Carol that seems to be emphasizing the horror aspects. This makes sense since horror director Ti West is at the helm of this one. Additionally, this is a pretty low-budget outing from Paramount, with a budget that’s below $40 million (according to Variety, Depp’s paycheck only came out to around $5 million for this film). This bodes well for the film’s profit chances and according to Box Office Theory, Ebenezer is tracking to make somewhere over $20 million in its first three days and forecasts say the domestic total for its run could come out as high as above $140 million.
The first reactions to the film have been mostly positive. Although our own JimmyO wasn’t too pumped by the idea of yet another Christmas Carol adaptation, he walked away impressed by the film, which he said was his favorite Depp performance in the last few years. “I was not terribly excited about the prospect of another Christmas Carol. Thankfully, Ti West’s Ebenezer presents a darker look at this Christmas fable,” he said. “Yet it brings more sincerity than many of the earlier efforts. Johnny Depp gives a layered performance as Scrooge. And while it is cartoonish at times, it is far more layered than the trailer would suggest. You actually see his growth with each spirit visiting him. It’s my favorite Depp performance in a few years.“
Set in early Victorian London, it follows the miserly businessman as he’s forced, through visions of the past, present, and future, on a supernatural journey toward a chance at redemption.
In addition to Depp, the film also stars Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sam Claflin as Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, Daisy Ridley as Clara, Fred’s wife, Arthur Conti as young Ebenezer, Ellie Bamber as Belle, with Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley.
Ebenezer will hit theaters on November 13.