Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, stepping out in full costume as Ebenezer Scrooge to promote the forthcoming prequel film, "Ebenezer." The actor, who was accused of abuse by his former wife Amber Heard and won a defamation case against her in 2022, donned the character's signature attire and appeared to be promoting a holiday-themed movie in the middle of summer.
The film, officially titled "Ebenezer," carries the tagline "Before he was Scrooge, he was…" a detail that has reportedly baffled observers. The premise of an origin story for the famed miser seems to have been inspired by the commercial success of the movie "Wonka," leading to a search for another public domain character with name recognition who could be positioned similarly.
During his appearance, Depp, in character, emerged outside a venue designed to resemble Scrooge and Marley's counting house. Before a gathered crowd, he delivered a brief "Humbug" in a British accent before departing. A video shared by DiscussingFilm captured the moment, showing Depp in costume and a crowd reacting to his appearance.
Depp also made an appearance at a panel unrelated to the "Ebenezer" film, joining Zach Cregger. The context of his presence at this separate panel, and the awareness of the "Ebenezer" promotion among the convention attendees, remains unclear. This promotional effort marks a notable step for Depp as he navigates a return to public life following a series of high-profile legal battles and personal issues, including allegations of abuse and substance abuse problems.