Johnny Depp Says His Scrooge Is a Man ‘Trying to Make Himself Invisible to the World’

Years after stepping away from major studio projects, the Hollywood star is back with a holiday tale that has been told for generations. According to those close to him, the role arrived at just the right time.

Johnny Depp is making his big-screen return as the title character in "Ebenezer," a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The film premiered at the Whitby Hotel in New York City on Sunday, November 1.

In the Ti West-directed reimagining, Ebenezer is famously visited by three ghosts from the past, present and future, who show him how his hatred and cruelty have affected him and will continue to affect others.

Reflecting on how he landed the role, Depp told People at the screening, "Ebenezer just sort of arrived in a weird way. It's kind of like the first time you put the wardrobe on, and you feel that, like with any character, that becomes your kind of suit of armor."

He continued, "So yeah, with Ebenezer, it's not like some guy who needs a chiropractor. This is a guy who's trying to make himself invisible to the world."

When it came to getting into character, Depp said his main goal was to understand why Scrooge became the man he was.

"That was the main sort of thing for me was the idea of the character," he explained. "Where's the in? How do you find your way in and give him a history and a reason why he is this supposed kind of just horrific miser and all that ... So I, I was more interested in finding out why he was how he was."

Back in July, Depp thrilled fans with a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, arriving in full Ebenezer Scrooge costume and fully in character. Videos of his performance and interactions with convention-goers quickly went viral on social media.

"He had a blast," a source said of Depp's surprise Comic-Con appearance. "He's back in a character role, which he loves. He really comes to life when he's in those characters — they're in his DNA."

The actor is "happy" and "entering a new chapter," the source noted, adding that appearing at Comic-Con as such an iconic character "was revitalizing for him."

In the years since he lost a court case relating to his acrimonious split from ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp has largely stayed away from Hollywood. Still, he has continued to star in independent and international productions while also pursuing music.

Although "Ebenezer" marks his first major studio movie in seven years, the actor feels that "he's never really gone away," the source said.

According to another insider, being tapped to play Ebenezer Scrooge "felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for the actor-filmmaker. "He's been very excited to film Ebenezer. It's a very special project for him," the source said in July.

Joining Depp in the cast are Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, among others.

Elsewhere in the interview, Depp shared his thoughts after Orlando Bloom expressed interest in returning to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise alongside him.

"Well, I think we should have a contest of who can grow the fastest non-beard," Depp joked when asked whether he'd be interested in reprising his role as Jack Sparrow. "Because neither of us can grow a beard, I don't think. I can't, for sure, but maybe he can. I don't know."