Johnny Depp's Dark Scrooge Meets Ian McKellen's Ghost In Haunting Christmas Carol Remake

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Published Apr 16, 2026, 2:51 PM EDT

Based in Los Angeles, Mona began her entertainment career in 2015, building experience across digital media and journalism. She has worked with major entertainment brands including iHeartMedia, E! News, Entertainment Tonight, and TMZ/TooFab, contributing to interviews, source development, and editorial production. Her writing even helped her team earn an Emmy Award at Entertainment Tonight. She has been an Entertainment & People News Reporter at ScreenRant since 2026.

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Johnny Depp is stepping into one of literature's most iconic roles, and the first footage from Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, which debuted at CinemaCon 2026 offers a haunting new take on the classic story, complete with a chilling first look at Ian McKellen's Ghost of Christmas Past.

While introducing the footage during Paramount's panel on Thursday, Depp cited the 1951 adaptation starring Alastair Sim as a major influence, saying there's "no one who can do it as well." Still, he made it clear he wanted to bring something new to the role, saying he aimed to find his own unique approach to Scrooge while honoring what came before.

The footage opens with Scrooge wandering through a snowy street, immediately establishing his cold, dismissive nature. He brushes off a cheerful "Merry Christmas" with a sharp "bah humbug," even laughing as someone nearby gets hit with a snowball. His disdain only escalates from there, as he declares he will donate nothing to the poor and demands to be left alone before slamming his door and shouting "humbug" once again.

But the tone quickly changes after supernatural elements take hold. Scrooge begins to be haunted by a series of ghosts, led by McKellen's eerie Ghost of Christmas Past, who warns him of what's to come. The character appears frail, ghostly, and unsettling, marking a darker visual take on the familiar spirit. When Scrooge initially refuses to follow, he's forcibly dragged into the journey, signaling a more aggressive interpretation of the ghostly visitations.

The footage then moves through a series of increasingly disturbing images. Scrooge is shown revisiting his past, including glimpses of his old home, while another ghost reveals a grotesque vision by opening his coat to expose a ribcage with someone trapped inside. The imagery suggests the film is leaning further into horror elements than many previous adaptations.