Johnny Depp Makes Surprise Comic-Con Return As Scrooge In First Major Hollywood Film In Nearly A Decade

Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, delighting fans by stepping back into the spotlight in character as Ebenezer Scrooge to promote his first major Hollywood studio film in nearly a decade.

The 62-year-old actor emerged from a Victorian-style Christmas set dressed as the iconic Charles Dickens character, complete with a top hat, cane and signature mutton chops. Remaining fully in character throughout the appearance, Depp greeted the crowd with Scrooge’s trademark grumpy attitude, muttering “Humbug” when an actor portraying one of Scrooge’s employees asked for higher wages.

Fans, many of whom had waited over an hour for the panel, erupted in cheers, with several dressed as Depp’s famous characters, including Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Despite shouts of “I love you” from the audience, Depp stayed true to his role and did not break character.

The appearance was part of Paramount Pictures’ promotional campaign for Ebenezer, directed by horror filmmaker Ti West. The film marks Depp’s first major studio release since 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Depp’s Hollywood career slowed following his high-profile legal battles with former wife Amber Heard. After losing a UK libel case against The Sun in 2020, he was dropped from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. However, he later secured a largely favourable verdict in a U.S. defamation trial against Heard in 2022.

Since then, Depp has focused on European productions, including Jeanne du Barry and Minamata. With Ebenezer, the actor is set to make a high-profile return to mainstream Hollywood, backed by a fanbase that has remained loyal throughout his career.