SDCC 2026: Johnny Depp Debuts First Trailer for Ti West's "EBENEZER" in Hall H And Wows The Gaslamp [IMAGES]

July 23, 2026

Written By: Sam Santiago

Hall H has delivered its fair share of unforgettable moments over the years, but one of this year's biggest surprises came when Johnny Depp made a rare public appearance to debut the first trailer for Ti West's "EBENEZER".

This wasn't just a wave and a quick question session as you'd expect during SDCC. Come on now, it's Johnny Depp, so of course he appeared fully transformed as Ebenezer Scrooge, complete with the film's makeup and wardrobe. Considering temperatures climbed well into the 90s around San Diego on Thursday, the commitment alone deserved a round of applause cuz we were baking like a toasted cheeser.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "EBENEZER" BELOW

What was really cool was what came after the panel and trailer reveal. After the panel wrapped, Depp made his way to the film's Scrooge & Marley storefront installation on Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter, where fans had gathered hoping for a glimpse of the actor. We were fortunate enough to catch him interacting with the crowd, snapping a few photos before he disappeared as quickly as he arrived. Although he only stayed for a short time, Depp never broke character. He even slipped in a playful jab about tariffs that drew laughs from the audience. As well as chatting it up with a few fans dressed as his former charters, The Mad Hatter and Edward Scissorhands.

Photo Credit: TrulyDisturbing

Politics aside, it was simply great to see Johnny Depp back on the big screen. The last several years haven't been easy for the actor. Following his highly publicized legal battle with ex wife Amber Heard and the fallout from his split with Disney, Depp's career was put on pause while he fought to clear his name. Seeing the response from the Hall H crowd made one thing abundantly clear: fans are happy to have him back.

Directed by Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine), Ebenezer offers a darker take on Charles Dickens' timeless classic, A Christmas Carol. Paramount will release the film exclusively in theaters on Nov. 13, 2026.

We really dig the films tagline, "The name you know. The story you don't", hints that this won't be a traditional retelling.

Joining Depp is an impressive ensemble that includes Andrea Riseborough (Possessor), Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings), Tramell Tillman (Severance), Rupert Grint (Harry Potter), Daisy Ridley (Star Wars), Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Arthur Conti (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), and Ellie Bamber (Willow).

According to the official synopsis, this version is a supernatural ghost story set in Dickens' London that follows one man's terrifying journey through his past, present, and future as he searches for redemption and a second chance at life.

Nathaniel Halpern penned the screenplay, with Ti West directing.

Although A Christmas Carol has been adapted countless times over the decades, from the 1951 classic starring Alastair Sim to Scrooged, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Robert Zemeckis' motion capture adaptation starring Jim Carrey, it's easy to forget that Dickens' original novel is, at its heart, a ghost story.

If anyone seems like the right filmmaker to lean into those horror roots, it's Ti West.

We'll have plenty more coverage from San Diego Comic-Con 2026 as it happens.