Johnny Depp on playing Scrooge in ‘Ebenezer’: ‘He is more tragic than hateful’

Johnny Depp is returning to the big screen with a fresh interpretation of one of literature’s most recognisable characters. The actor will play Ebenezer Scrooge in ‘Ebenezer’, a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novella ‘A Christmas Carol’, directed by Ti West.

For Depp, the role comes with a personal connection. The actor recalled growing up watching the story every Christmas, particularly the celebrated adaptation featuring Alastair Sim. Speaking during the film’s UK promotions in an interview with YouTube channel The Upcoming, he said he had never imagined himself playing Scrooge despite being familiar with the character from childhood.

“I've been familiar with ‘A Christmas Carol’ since I've been a very little kid. I used to watch the Alastair Sim’s version. Every Christmas, I would look forward to watching that film. And I've watched it on loops, you know, over the years, without ever having the intention or the idea of me playing Scrooge,” Depp said.

Johnny Depp on finding a different side to Ebenezer Scrooge

Taking on a character previously portrayed by several actors, including Alastair Sim, presented Depp with a creative challenge. The actor said he initially smiled when he received the offer, but was aware of the expectations attached to playing such an iconic literary figure.

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“When I got the offer to play Ebenezer Scrooge, my first reaction was - I just smiled. Because even though Alastair Sim, I believe, is the ultimate Scrooge, and a lot of people have played Scrooge, Sim’s was perfect. So that, in itself, for me was the challenge. The challenge to find a different way into Ebenezer Scrooge. So is he just simply a mean, old, miserly guy?” he said.

Rather than approaching Scrooge as simply a bitter and greedy man, Depp wanted to explore the experiences that shaped his personality. He suggested that the character's emotional withdrawal came from a point in his life when caring about others had become too painful.

“It takes something to get there, you know. So I felt that Ebenezer's basic, ultimate life dilemma was that, at a certain point, he had to stop himself from caring because it hurt him too much. So he then just went inward,” the actor explained.

Depp described Scrooge as someone shaped by personal suffering rather than someone who was simply hateful.

“The character is more tragic than hateful, more a product of certain experiences and his upbringing. A broken human being,” he said.

‘Ebenezer’ explores whether Scrooge can change

At the heart of ‘A Christmas Carol’ is Scrooge’s journey through his past, present and possible future, guided by supernatural visitors. The experience forces him to confront the choices that shaped his life and consider whether he can change.

Depp said the opportunity to revisit the character’s life and understand his past is what makes the story particularly moving. He also spoke about its larger message of redemption and the possibility of bringing someone back from a deeply troubled state.

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“With the opportunity to go back inside, travel through his life and see it from a different angle to understand how he became what he became, and that some people can be brought back, you know, from that deep abyss of just self-hatred and yeah, total antisocial behavior. It's a very beautiful story, but it's certainly a story of life experience and eventuality,” he added.

The film also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Robert Strange, Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen in pivotal roles. Written by Nathaniel Halpern, ‘Ebenezer’ is produced by Emma Watts under Paramount Pictures. The adventure-fantasy film is scheduled to release in theatres on November 20.