Johnny Depp's Long-Awaited Hollywood Comeback in 'Ebenezer' Gets First Reactions

Variety reported that Johnny Depp's 'Ebenezer' made $1.5 million in previews ahead of its November 13 release. According to CNN, the Paramount Pictures film is Depp's biggest role since his highly publicized legal battles, marking his return to mainstream Hollywood after a near-decade long absence. In the film's trailer, Depp is heavily made up and grey-haired, winking at the camera to say, 'It's good to be back,' and in a different cut, 'I'm not the man I was.' Paramount is banking on a family-friendly Christmas flick featuring a cast that includes Rupert Grint, Ian McKellan, and Daisy Ridley, directed by horror filmmaker Ti West, as reported by CNN. Nellee Holmes, executive producer of the 2023 French film 'Jeanne du Barry' which cast Depp as Louis XV, expects 'Ebenezer' to do well, stating that Depp has maintained devout friends in the industry who trust in him, and calling him 'a good human being.' Holmes noted that in Europe, where 'Ebenezer' and his next project were filmed, there is a contingent that sees Depp differently, adding, 'You cannot say anything that makes him bad' and 'His work is his weapon.' George Washington University Law School professor Mary Anne Franks, who wrote about the Depp v. Heard case in her book 'Fearless Speech,' stated that the world is primed for a Depp comeback, noting that backlash against male celebrities and politicians accused of abuse or violence in recent years has often been temporary. Franks said Depp may have benefited from the huge media coverage of the trial and its contribution to his image as a countercultural icon, adding, 'Not only has he not suffered meaningful consequences, he's been lauded, and he became a hero to certain people.' Paramount tested the waters by dispatching Depp dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge to Comic-Con in San Diego over the summer, where he camouflaged in full makeup and costume. According to a source familiar with the film, Depp's continued star power and data showing audiences' continued enthusiasm for him were important factors in his casting, though Paramount and Depp's publicist declined to comment on the record. Evan Nierman, CEO and founder of crisis PR firm Red Banyan, said leaning into the controversy by casting Depp in a role that self-consciously winks at his own controversies is smart strategy because when a company deals head-on with an issue perceived as controversial, 'you defang it.' Nierman added, 'There's a critical mass of the population who has no hesitation about recognizing Johnny Depp's abilities and going to see films that he stars in,' calling him 'the closest thing Hollywood has to a sure thing.' Depp's path to his big Hollywood comeback started with his fall beginning in 2016, when his then-wife Amber Heard filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order alleging verbal and physical abuse. Depp subsequently sued the publisher of a British tabloid for describing him as a 'wife-eater' in an article questioning his casting in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series, a trial where Heard testified that Depp threatened to kill her many times and was physically abusive. A judge found the description substantially true, and Depp was asked to resign from his 'Fantastic Beasts' role in 2020, after which a studio executive cited by The Hollywood Reporter considered him 'radioactive' and un-hirable, and the Guardian called him a 'spent cliche.' Depp then sued Heard for defamation in a televised US trial over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, resulting in a mixed verdict and a subsequent 2022 settlement where Heard stated the settlement was 'not a concession' and Depp's lawyers said they were pleased to close the door on a painful chapter. CNN reported that following 'Ebenezer,' Depp will star in 'Day Drinker' alongside Penelope Cruz and Madelyn Cline, a gallery in the United Kingdom is hosting a show of Depp's artworks including a gloomy self-portrait and collages, and long-stalled talks for him to resume his role in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise have restarted.