The actor debuted his new Scrooge role as he steps back into major studio projects

Johnny Depp is officially stepping back into the Hollywood spotlight.

The actor made a surprise appearance to debut his new film Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, marking one of his biggest studio projects in years.

And he did not keep it low key.

Depp walked on stage to a warm reception, embracing the moment as he introduced the film and shared his long standing connection to the classic story.

According to him, A Christmas Carol has been a favourite since childhood, even admitting he initially questioned whether anyone could live up to past versions of the character.

But this take is doing things differently.

First footage from the film shows Depp completely transformed as Ebenezer Scrooge, with a dramatic new look that makes him almost unrecognisable.

The story sticks to the familiar path, following Scrooge as he is confronted by three spirits and forced to rethink his life.

But the scale is clearly bigger.

The cast includes names like Ian McKellen, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Grint and Daisy Ridley, adding serious weight to the project.

The film is directed by Ti West and is set to hit cinemas this November.

It is also a notable moment for Depp’s career.

After stepping away from major Hollywood productions in recent years, this marks a return to big studio filmmaking following a period focused on international projects.

Whether this is a full comeback or just the beginning remains to be seen.

But for now, Depp is back on the big screen in a very familiar story, with a very different take.