People love a good comeback story. Especially when it involves a guy who basically vanished from the Hollywood studio system for half a decade. Most of the chatter you'll hear online lately focuses on the courtrooms or the Dior ads, but the real story is happening on film sets again. Johnny Depp latest film projects aren't just small indie favors; they're becoming a massive, multi-pronged return to the big screen that looks a lot different than the Captain Jack Sparrow days.
If you’ve been following the trades, you know the vibe has shifted. It’s no longer just about "will he work again?" It’s about the fact that he is working, and the scale is ramping up fast.
The Big One: Ebenezer and the Ti West Factor
Let’s get straight to the point. The project everyone is buzzing about is Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. This isn't your grandma's holiday special. It’s being directed by Ti West, the mind behind those gritty horror hits X and Pearl. Paramount Pictures is backing it, which is a huge deal. Why? Because it marks Depp’s first major Hollywood studio film in a very long time.
He’s playing Ebenezer Scrooge. Honestly, the casting makes a weird kind of sense. Depp has always been the king of disappearing into eccentric, lonely, or "broken" characters.
The film is set for a November 13, 2026 release. That’s a prime holiday slot. They aren't burying this in January; they’re treatin’ it like a blockbuster. Word is he’s going full-method with the prosthetics, aiming to create a version of Scrooge that feels more like a haunting ghost story than a festive fable.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
For a while there, it felt like Depp was stuck in "experimental European film" land. Movies like Jeanne du Barry (where he played Louis XV) were fine, but they didn't exactly scream "Hollywood is back in the Johnny Depp business." Ebenezer changes that. When a studio like Paramount puts a date on the calendar, they're betting millions that the audience is ready to show up for him again.
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Playing the Devil: The Terry Gilliam Collaboration
Then there’s the bizarre, beautiful chaos of The Carnival at the End of Days. If you know anything about director Terry Gilliam, you know his productions are usually legendary nightmares to actually get finished. But the concept here is wild: God decides to wipe out humanity because we’ve ruined the planet, and the only person who tries to save us is... Satan.
And yeah, Johnny Depp is playing Satan.
He’s starring alongside Jeff Bridges, who is playing God. It’s the kind of high-concept, weirdo cinema that Depp built his entire reputation on back in the Edward Scissorhands days. The cast is actually stacked:
- Jason Momoa
- Adam Driver
- Asa Butterfield
The movie is reportedly a comedy, which feels like a breath of fresh air. We’ve seen enough "serious" Depp lately. Seeing him lean back into that dark, comedic timing could be exactly what his career needs to feel "human" again to the general public.
Behind the Camera: Modi and the Al Pacino Connection
While everyone is looking for his face on screen, he’s actually been busy behind the lens too. Johnny Depp latest film as a director, titled Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, is basically a passion project that Al Pacino himself reportedly nudged him to do.
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It follows seventy-two chaotic hours in the life of artist Amedeo Modigliani in 1916 Paris. It’s not a standard biopic. It’s more of a "whirlwind" through war-torn streets and bars.
"Modi is a testament to the collaborative spirit of independent filmmaking," Depp said regarding the project.
The film landed a U.S. release date of November 7, 2025, through Vertical. It’s already done the festival circuit in San Sebastián and Rome, where it reportedly got a massive standing ovation. It’s interesting to see him pivot to directing. It suggests he’s not just looking for a paycheck; he’s looking for creative control that he might not get on a Disney set anymore.
The Day Drinker: Action and Penelope Cruz
If the Dickens adaptation is the "prestige" play and Modi is the "art" play, then Day Drinker is the "commercial" play. He’s reuniting with Penélope Cruz for this thriller directed by Marc Webb. They’ve got great chemistry—remember Blow or Pirates on Stranger Tides?—and the plot involves a cruise ship bartender and a mysterious drinker who get tangled up in a criminal underworld.
Lionsgate is behind this one. Again, another major studio. It’s clear that the "blacklisting" phase of his career is effectively over in 2026.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People keep waiting for Pirates 6. They think the "comeback" isn't real unless he’s wearing the eyeliner and the tricorn hat. Honestly? That might be the wrong way to look at it.
Depp is 62 now. The "latest film" slate he’s built—Scrooge, Satan, a French King, a director’s credit—shows he’s leaning into "character actor" territory rather than "action hero" territory. He's choosing projects with directors like Ti West and Terry Gilliam who value his specific brand of "weird."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Followers
If you're trying to keep track of where to see him next, here is the realistic roadmap based on current production schedules:
- Watch the Indie Space first: Modi hits select U.S. theaters in November 2025. This will be the first real test of his drawing power in the States post-trial.
- The Studio Litmus Test: Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol in November 2026 is the one to watch for box office numbers. If this hits, expect the "A-list" floodgates to open entirely.
- Check the Festivals: Movies like The Carnival at the End of Days often premiere at places like Cannes or Venice before they hit regular theaters. Keep an eye on those lineups in early 2026.
- Manage Expectations on Pirates: While Jerry Bruckheimer has expressed interest in Depp returning, the current focus is on a reboot. Don't expect a Jack Sparrow announcement until these other films prove he's still a "safe" bet for a billion-dollar franchise.
The strategy is pretty clear. Work with respected directors, take on transformative roles that hide the "celebrity" under makeup, and slowly rebuild the trust of the big studios. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
To stay updated on release dates or trailer drops, you can follow the official social media accounts for production companies like In.2 Film or Lionsgate, as they usually post the first look at production stills months before a trailer actually hits YouTube.