Johnny Depp returns to Hollywood in Ebenezer, reportedly earning $5 million

Johnny Depp returns to big-budget Hollywood filmmaking after almost eight years away. He plays Scrooge in Ebenezer, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens's novella first published in 1843. The film is produced by Paramount Pictures, and Ti West, a director best known for horror, is behind the camera.

The film is scheduled to open in cinemas on 13 November 2026. For Depp, it is his first Hollywood role since 2018, when he was removed from the cast of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore after domestic violence allegations. In 2022 he won his defamation case against his former wife Amber Heard, and under a later settlement she agreed to pay him $1 million.

How much he earned

According to Variety, as cited by WP Film, Depp received $5 million for his involvement in the film. Another WP Film article describes about $5 million as his base fee, plus a share of earnings should the film be a success. The outlet describes the sum as a fraction of Depp's former fees, but does not state what those fees were.

First reactions

Depp appeared in full Scrooge costume and make-up at San Diego Comic-Con, surprising the audience. Early online reactions collected by Filmweb largely praise his performance and compare it with earlier screen Scrooges. Not everyone is convinced the adaptation stands out, however.