Johnny Depp Surprises Comic-Con as Scrooge, Jokes About Trump Tariffs

Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, emerging in full costume from a faux 1880s British Christmas village in the Gaslamp district to promote his upcoming film Ebenezer. Dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge, the character he plays in director Ti West's horror-fantasy reimagining of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Depp stayed in character throughout the event, responding to crowd interactions with gruff Scrooge-like remarks. At one point, while in character, he made a joke about tariffs while ripping garlands from a mock gate, saying "That's on my property, which means that I own it" and "you're paying tax on it being there... Putting tariffs on the gate." The crowd recognized the apparent reference to President Donald Trump's trade policies and responded with laughter.

The appearance marked a significant moment for Depp's return to Hollywood after years away from major studio productions. Ebenezer, distributed by Paramount Pictures, is Depp's first major American studio film since 2018, following his 2022 defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard. The film features an ensemble cast including Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint, Daisy Ridley, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, and Arthur Conti. Directed by Ti West—known for the horror films X, Pearl, and MaXXine—the adaptation aims to present a darker, more supernatural take on the classic holiday story, with promotional materials teasing "The name you know. The story you don't."

Paramount Pictures coordinated the Comic-Con appearance as part of a broader marketing push for the film, which is scheduled for theatrical release on November 13, 2026. The publicity stunt drew crowds in downtown San Diego and generated widespread media coverage. Depp has previously made surprise appearances at Comic-Con, including in 2018 for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and in 2009 for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. The actor has made multiple public appearances in recent years at film festivals and industry events, signaling an increased visibility following his earlier legal disputes.