Convention - SDCC 2026: Johnny Depp Returns to Hall H to Launch Ebenezer with First Official Trailer

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, Hall H, 23 july 2026

Johnny Depp Surprises Fans as Ebenezer Scrooge in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter

One of the defining moments of San Diego Comic-Con 2026 arrived completely unannounced when Johnny Depp unexpectedly stepped into the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter, not as himself, but fully transformed into Ebenezer Scrooge. Wearing elaborate Victorian costume, heavy prosthetic makeup, a weathered top hat and carrying a cane, the actor wandered through the immersive "Ebenezer's Office" activation in character, greeting stunned fans with a perfectly gruff "Bah! Humbug!" The surprise immediately became one of the convention's biggest viral moments as attendees rushed to capture photos and videos of the encounter, turning Paramount Pictures' promotional stunt into one of the most talked-about attractions of SDCC. Unlike traditional studio presentations confined to convention halls, the activation blurred the line between live performance and film marketing, allowing fans to interact directly with Scrooge before many even realized that the mysterious elderly gentleman was actually Johnny Depp beneath layers of prosthetics. The carefully orchestrated surprise demonstrated Paramount's confidence in making the actor's physical transformation the centerpiece of the campaign while reinforcing the film's central promise: audiences may know the name Ebenezer Scrooge, but this adaptation intends to offer a story unlike any previous version.

Hall H Hosts the World Premiere of the First Ebenezer Trailer

The excitement reached another level later that afternoon inside the legendary Hall H, where Johnny Depp once again appeared in character during the Collider Directors on Directing panel to personally introduce the first official trailer for Ebenezer. The reveal marked the official launch of Paramount's worldwide marketing campaign and instantly confirmed the studio's ambitions for the film. Directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Ti West, the production abandons the comforting Christmas atmosphere associated with many previous adaptations of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella in favor of an unsettling Gothic fantasy infused with supernatural horror. The official tagline, "The name you know, the story you don't," perfectly summarizes the creative direction, suggesting that while the familiar redemption arc remains intact, the narrative dramatically expands the mythology surrounding Scrooge's terrifying encounters with the spirits of Christmas. The trailer emphasizes eerie imagery, haunting visions and psychological torment while preserving flashes of dark humor, a tonal balance that has become one of Ti West's trademarks throughout his recent filmography.

Ebenezer Reimagines Charles Dickens' Classic as Gothic Fantasy

Beyond the spectacular Comic-Con presentation, Ebenezer also represents a significant production for Paramount Pictures. Directed by Ti West from a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern, the film was originally announced under the title Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol before the studio officially shortened it to simply Ebenezer as marketing began in July 2026. Produced by Emma Watts, the feature is a collaboration between Wattsco, IN.2 Film and Domain Entertainment, with cinematography by Checco Varese, whose atmospheric visual style appears prominently throughout the newly released footage. Principal photography began in January 2026 across London, Dublin and the historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, locations chosen for their remarkably preserved Victorian architecture, allowing the production to recreate nineteenth-century London with exceptional authenticity while minimizing reliance on digital environments. The resulting visual aesthetic combines historical realism with stylized Gothic horror, reinforcing the darker reinterpretation envisioned by Ti West.

An All-Star Cast Brings Victorian London to Life

The impressive ensemble cast surrounding Johnny Depp further illustrates the project's scale. Ian McKellen portrays Jacob Marley, while Rupert Grint takes on the role of Bob Cratchit, Andrea Riseborough embodies the Ghost of Christmas Past, Sam Claflin plays Fred, Daisy Ridley appears as Emily Cratchit, Arthur Conti portrays the young Ebenezer Scrooge, Ellie Bamber plays Isabel Fezziwig, and Tramell Tillman becomes the Ghost of Christmas Present. Additional roles are filled by Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Charlie Murphy, completing one of Paramount's strongest ensemble casts of the year. The trailer offered audiences their first official look at many of these performances, highlighting not only Scrooge's transformation but also the film's richly imagined supernatural world, where each ghost appears considerably more frightening than in previous cinematic adaptations of Dickens' classic story.

Behind the Scenes of Paramount Pictures' Ambitious Holiday Release

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Paramount's campaign is the way it deliberately places Johnny Depp's transformation at the center of the conversation. Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, the trailer references some of the actor's most iconic performances including Captain Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and the Mad Hatter before presenting Scrooge as another entry in his gallery of eccentric characters. The extensive prosthetic work makes the actor nearly unrecognizable, emphasizing expressive facial details rather than celebrity recognition. At Comic-Con, many attendees reportedly walked past the actor without immediately realizing who was beneath the makeup, only recognizing him after hearing the unmistakable voice behind Scrooge's trademark "Bah! Humbug!" That commitment to practical characterization mirrors the immersive promotional strategy employed throughout the day, turning the launch into a genuine live performance rather than a conventional publicity appearance.

Why Ebenezer Was One of the Biggest Talking Points of SDCC 2026

The response to the trailer was immediate. Within just two days of its release, Paramount's official upload had surpassed 15 million views on YouTube, illustrating the enormous curiosity surrounding both the film and Johnny Depp's return to a major Hollywood studio production. While media commentary has naturally discussed the significance of the actor's renewed presence in a large-scale American studio release, much of the audience reaction has focused instead on the film's striking visual identity, the ambitious horror elements introduced by Ti West, and the unusually atmospheric reinterpretation of one of literature's most enduring Christmas stories. Rather than presenting a straightforward remake, Ebenezer positions itself as a dramatic reinvention that blends Victorian ghost story, psychological horror and redemption drama into what could become one of the most distinctive holiday releases in recent years.

Ebenezer Release Date and What Fans Can Expect

Scheduled for theatrical release in France on November 11, 2026, followed by Australia and Brazil on November 12 and the United States on November 13, Ebenezer is clearly being positioned by Paramount Pictures as one of its major event films for the 2026 holiday season. If the extraordinary reception at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 is any indication, the studio has already succeeded in making the film one of the year's most anticipated releases. From an unforgettable surprise performance in the streets of San Diego to an electrifying Hall H trailer debut, Johnny Depp, Ti West and Paramount transformed a familiar Dickens classic into one of Comic-Con's biggest stories, proving that even after nearly two centuries, the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge can still surprise audiences when viewed through an entirely new lens.

You can found our photos in our Flickr page : Hall H, Activation

Synopsis :
This November, Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The name you know, the story you don’t. From Ti West, EBENEZER also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, with Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen.

Ebenezer
Directed by Ti West
Written by Nathaniel Halpern
Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Produced by Emma Watts
Starring  Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen
Cinematography : Checco Varese
Production companies : Domain Entertainment, Wattsco, IN.2 Film
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates : November 11, 2026 (France), November 13, 2026 (United States)
Running time : NC

Photos and video 4K :  Boris Colletier / Mulderville