Johnny Depp Set To Finally Make His Big Hollywood Comeback After Amber Heard Controversy

Fans of Johnny Depp who have been waiting to see him hit the big screen once again in a major role are finally getting their wish.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star suffered a fall from grace following the legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, whom he split from in 2016.

Now, Johnny Depp has landed a role in a big-budget adaptation of a Charles Dickens holiday classic. He also has several other upcoming projects, with a few expected to debut later this year.

Johnny Depp is gearing up for a grand Hollywood comeback after his fall from grace over his scandal with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

While the actor has actually starred in other independent movies since the scandal, this new project, which he is reportedly in final negotiations for, is his first big-budget movie.

According to TMZ, the movie is a reimagining of a Charles Dickens holiday classic, titled "Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol."

Depp will play the titular role of Ebenezer Scrooge and will be joined by other reputable actors, such as Andrea Riseborough, whose role remains under wraps for now.

The movie is in development at Paramount Pictures, the same studio with which Depp has previously collaborated on notable projects such as "Sleepy Hollow."

Details about the film's narrative remain sparse for now, aside from a brief logline shared by its creators.

"A thrilling ghost story set in Dickens' London, following one man's supernatural journey to face his past, present, and future and fight for a second chance," it read.

Apart from starring Depp, renowned producer Emma Watts is also on board for the movie, while Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman will serve as executive producers.

Directing the film is Ti West, whose horror trilogy, "X," "Pearl," and "Maxxxine," has received rave reviews.

West will also reunite with Nathaniel Halpern, his former collaborator from Prime Video's sci-fi series Tales from the Loop, who is penning the screenplay.

For now, the date of release is set for November 13, 2026, provided there are no changes to the filming schedule.

Signing up for the carol film is just one of the many projects the actor has been involved in since the start of the year.

One other major project he has worked on is the movie "Day Drinker," an action thriller that stars him alongside Penelope Cruz and "Outer Banks" star Madelyn Cline.

Filming wrapped earlier this month, though a release date has yet to be officially announced.

This year, Depp also had his second attempt at directing, helming the film "Modigliani: Three Days on the Wing of Madness."

In a statement released months ago, the actor said he was "incredibly honored" to have directed the project, per People Magazine.

"The saga of Mr. Modigliani's life is one that I'm incredibly honored, and truly humbled, to bring to the screen," Depp said about the movie, which starred veteran actor Al Pacino.

"It was a life of great hardship, but eventual triumph — a universally human story all viewers can identify with," he added at the time.

Depp's downfall began after his ex-wife published an op-ed in 2018, two years after their split.

In the piece, she implied that Depp had been abusive toward her, an allegation that ultimately prompted the actor to file a defamation lawsuit.

At the end of the trial, Depp emerged victorious, with the jury awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

In a statement after the verdict, he thanked the jury for the decision, saying they "gave me my life back."

He added, "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me."

Heard, who has steered clear from the public eye since the loss, described the verdict as a setback against women.

She shared, "I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband."

The actress added, "It is a setback. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously."