How Will Disney Respond to ‘Pirates’ Star Johnny Depp’s Hollywood Comeback?
Paramount Pictures will put Johnny Depp’s commercial standing to its most public test in years this Friday, November 13, when Ebenezer (2026) opens in theaters. The gothic reimagining of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol gives the actor his first leading role in a major studio release in years, and it arrives as conversation around a possible return to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise gathers pace.
For an actor whose career was upended by one of the most closely followed celebrity legal battles of the decade, the release represents a significant milestone, and a measure of how far a major studio is now willing to go in putting him front and center.
A Horror Filmmaker Takes On Dickens
Directed by Ti West, best known for the 2022 horror film X, Ebenezer approaches one of the most frequently adapted holiday stories through a darker, horror-inspired lens. Depp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly moneylender confronted by spirits on Christmas Eve.
The studio has surrounded him with a deep bench of talent. Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit opposite Daisy Ridley as Emily Cratchit, while Sir Ian McKellen appears as Jacob Marley. Andrea Riseborough and Tramell Tillman portray the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present, respectively. Sam Claflin plays Fred, Arthur Conti appears as Young Ebenezer, Ellie Bamber plays Isabel Fezziwig, and Charlie Murphy completes the ensemble.
Paramount has also chosen to lean into Depp’s history rather than away from it. The trailer, released over the summer, references his most famous role directly with the line, “He brought us Jack Sparrow…” It is a marketing decision that would have been difficult to imagine only a few years ago.
The Road Back
Depp’s trajectory shifted sharply during his widely publicized dispute with former wife Amber Heard, which divided public opinion and coincided with his departures from two major franchises: Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, in which he played Captain Jack Sparrow, and Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts series, where he portrayed Gellert Grindelwald.
The 2022 defamation trial concluded with a jury awarding Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and Heard $2 million. In the aftermath, the actor largely stepped back from big-budget Hollywood work, concentrating instead on smaller international projects. Those credits include Minamata (2020), Jeanne du Barry (2023), Johnny Puff: Secret Mission (2024) and Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness (2024), the latter of which he also directed and produced. He is next set to star opposite Penélope Cruz in Lionsgate’s Day Drinker (2027).
That stretch also reflected a quieter personal life away from Los Angeles. In a 2023 interview with Somerset Life, Depp spoke warmly of Somerset, England, citing its character, its friendly residents and the privacy it affords him. Describing himself as shy, he said he valued being able to visit local businesses without drawing overwhelming attention.
Measured against those years, a Paramount holiday release with a recognizable ensemble marks a clear step up.
The Pirates Question Resurfaces
The timing of Ebenezer has inevitably revived questions about Depp’s relationship with Disney. Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is in development, reportedly alongside Top Gun 3, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer has said he would love to work with Depp again.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Depp indicated he would be open to reprising Captain Jack Sparrow, though only under specific circumstances.
“If things are exactly where they need to be with regard to how they are going to top off the Pirates franchise… the only involvement I really want to have, truly, is just to send them off on a better note,” Depp told Entertainment Tonight.
He was equally direct about his loyalty to the franchise’s longtime producer. “I will go to work with [Jerry] Bruckheimer tomorrow for anything. Doesn’t matter… if it’s Jerry, I trust him. We have a deep friendship.” Disney has not confirmed Depp’s involvement, and no deal has been announced.
What Comes Next
How Ebenezer performs this weekend could carry consequences well beyond the holiday box office. A solid reception would strengthen the case that Depp remains a viable studio lead, and could inform whether Disney and Bruckheimer ultimately pursue the farewell the actor has described. For now, a Pirates return remains a possibility rather than a plan.
How do you think Disney will handle Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean 6 movie? Let us know in the comments below!
