‘Ebenezer’ Cast & Characters Guide: Meet the Stars of the Latest ‘A Christmas Carol’ Adaptation

Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, is getting a darker adaptation in Ebenezer. The film brings a Gothic horror approach to the familiar holiday story, following the bitter Ebenezer Scrooge through eerie visions of his past, present and future on Christmas Eve in one final chance at redemption.

Unlike previous renditions, this version places a greater emphasis on supernatural horror and dark humor. That makes Ti West, best known for directing the X horror trilogy, including X, Pearl and MaXXXine, a fitting choice to bring this interpretation of the Christmas classic to life.

Ebenezer premieres exclusively in theaters on Friday, November 13, 2026, just in time for the holiday season.

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What Is ‘Ebenezer’ About?

Based on A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, Ebenezer follows the notoriously wealthy, selfish and Christmas-hating Ebenezer Scrooge as he embarks on a supernatural journey through Victorian London.

On Christmas Eve, Scrooge receives an unexpected visit from the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him of the consequences of his selfish ways. He warns that soon, three spirits will arrive to guide him through his past, present and future, forcing him to confront painful memories, understand how his actions impact others and witness the grim fate that awaits him if he refuses to change.

While the film follows the central storyline of Dickens’ beloved holiday classic, director Ti West brings a more unsettling atmosphere and dark humor to the story, placing greater emphasis on its Gothic and supernatural elements. The adaptation also explores Scrooge’s personal history in greater depth, while giving several supporting characters more developed storylines. Even the ghosts receive unnerving makeovers and expanded backstories.

At its heart, however, Ebenezer remains a story about redemption, compassion and the possibility of change, even for someone as stubborn as Scrooge.

Watch the official trailer for Ebenezer below:

‘Ebenezer’ Cast & Characters Guide

Here’s a look at the confirmed cast of Ebenezer:

Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge

Known from: Pirates of the Caribbean, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Into the Woods

Johnny Depp stars in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, the extremely wealthy, but also extremely bitter and stubborn, businessman who has spent years shutting himself off from the world, earning himself a terrible reputation in his community. Scrooge has little patience for Christmas or the people who celebrate it, doing everything in his power to embody the anti-Christmas spirit.

Known for being cynical, selfish and quick to dismiss others, Scrooge is deeply troubled beneath his cold exterior, with a painful past that has left him unwilling to form meaningful connections.

For Depp’s Scrooge, cruelty stems less from simple greed and more from emotional wounds that have hardened him over time. Depp describes the character as someone who stopped caring because caring had become too painful, choosing instead to retreat into himself. His bitterness is also accompanied by a mischievous, sarcastic sense of humor, giving the character moments of unexpected playfulness.

When three spirits force Scrooge to revisit his past, confront his present and witness his possible future, he must reckon with the experiences that shaped him and decide whether he’s willing to change before it’s too late.

Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit

Known from: Harry Potter, Snatch, Sick Note, Servant, Knock at the Cabin, The ABC Murders

Rupert Grint plays Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s hardworking, underpaid clerk who endures his employer’s constant criticism and mistreatment to provide for his family. Despite his difficult working conditions and financial struggles, Bob remains kindhearted, optimistic and devoted to his wife and children. Unlike Scrooge, he loves Christmastime and finds happiness in the people around him rather than in money.

In this adaptation, Bob’s frustration with his circumstances is more apparent, highlighting the emotional toll of working for someone as demanding and unpleasant as Scrooge. Although he desperately wants to leave his job, his family’s financial situation leaves him with little choice but to endure the mistreatment. Still, Bob refuses to let his hardships diminish his compassion or his belief in the goodness of others.

Sam Claflin as Fred

Known from: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Snow White and the Huntsman, Me Before You

Sam Claflin portrays Fred, Ebenezer Scrooge’s cheerful and optimistic nephew who refuses to let his uncle’s bitterness ruin his Christmas spirit. Fred is kind and good-natured, and he believes in the importance of family and togetherness, even when Scrooge repeatedly rejects his attempts to connect.

Following the death of his mother, Scrooge’s sister, Fred sees his relationship with his uncle as a way to preserve his connection to her. Despite Scrooge’s cold demeanor and constant dismissal of his kindness, Fred continues to reach out, hoping to eventually get through to his uncle and rebuild their relationship before it’s too late.

Daisy Ridley as Clara

Known from: Star Wars, Murder on the Orient Express, Magpie, Ophelia, Chaos Walking

Daisy Ridley plays Clara, Fred’s wife and Scrooge’s niece-in-law. Like her husband, Clara is warm and gracious. She shares Fred’s appreciation for family and the Christmas spirit, though she isn’t quite as patient when it comes to his notoriously unpleasant uncle.

Clara struggles to understand why Fred continues making an effort to connect with Scrooge despite his repeated rejection and unkind behavior. While Fred remains hopeful that his uncle will eventually come around, Clara is more skeptical, trying to get her husband to recognize that his efforts may never be reciprocated. Still, she stands by Fred as he tries to bring his uncle back into the family fold.

Arthur Conti as Young Ebenezer Scrooge

Known from: Carrie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, & Sons, House of the Dragon

Arthur Conti portrays a younger Ebenezer Scrooge, offering a glimpse into the man he was before becoming the bitter, selfish businessman audiences know. Through memories of his earlier years, we see a more hopeful and emotionally vulnerable Ebenezer, whose ambitions and desire for financial security gradually begin to overshadow his personal relationships.

Young Scrooge’s experiences help explain how he became so distrustful and emotionally distant. As he faces difficult choices involving love, money and his future, he begins prioritizing wealth over the people closest to him. These formative years reveal that Scrooge wasn’t always the coldhearted man he eventually becomes.

Ellie Bamber as Isabel Fezziwig

Known from: The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, The Serpent, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Ellie Bamber portrays Isabel Fezziwig, a young woman from Scrooge’s past who was once engaged to the businessman before his growing obsession with wealth and influence drove them apart. Isabel represents a time when Ebenezer was more hopeful, affectionate and capable of putting love ahead of financial success.

As their relationship develops, Isabel begins to recognize how Scrooge’s greed and ambition are changing him, gradually deteriorating the bond they once shared. Eventually, she makes the decision to leave him, unwilling to watch his pursuit of wealth consume the man she once loved.

Early promotional materials for the film suggest that losing Isabel was one of the defining experiences that pushed Scrooge further down the path toward becoming the bitter, isolated man he is in the present.

Andrea Riseborough as Ghost of Christmas Past

Known from: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Oblivion, Possessor, To Leslie

Andrea Riseborough portrays the Ghost of Christmas Past, the first of three spirits sent to guide Ebenezer Scrooge through his supernatural journey. The ghost takes Scrooge back to his younger years, forcing him to revisit the old memories, lost relationships and painful experiences that he’s spent years pushing down.

Unlike the more innocent, glowing figure depicted in some earlier versions of A Christmas Carol, Riseborough’s spirit has a distinctly unsettling appearance. With ghostly pale skin, white hair, cracked lips, sunken eyes with no pupils and a flowing, veil-like white garment resembling a wedding dress, the spirit looks almost corpse-like.

Tramell Tillman as Ghost of Christmas Present

Known from: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Severance, Godfather of Harlem, Dietland

Tramell Tillman portrays the Ghost of Christmas Present, the second spirit to visit Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. The ghost takes Scrooge through the streets of Victorian London, showing him how others are spending the holiday and exposing him to the poverty, hardship and suffering he has spent years ignoring.

While traditionally depicted as a large, jovial figure dressed in festive robes, Tillman’s spirit has a much more menacing appearance. His face is scarred, his skin appears cracked and weathered, and he wears a large, matted fur coat topped with a crown of leaves and thorny branches. Beneath his elaborate clothing, an exposed ribcage adds to his disturbing appearance, with creatures emerging from his chest.

The Ghost of Christmas Present is stern and confrontational, determined to make Scrooge understand the consequences of his selfishness. Rather than gently encouraging him to change, the spirit delivers harsh lessons intended to force Scrooge to confront uncomfortable truths.

Robert Strange as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Known from: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Doctor Who, Return to Silent Hill

Robert Strange portrays the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, the third and final spirit to visit Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. Unlike the previous two ghosts, this mysterious figure remains completely silent, communicating through gestures as it guides Scrooge through frightening visions of a future that could become reality if he refuses to change his ways.

The spirit takes on the appearance of a towering, shadowy figure concealed beneath a long, dark hooded cloak. Its face remains hidden, giving it a grim, deathlike presence that makes it particularly intimidating. Rather than offering Scrooge explanations or reassurance, the ghost allows the disturbing scenes of his possible future to speak for themselves.

Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley

Known from: The Lord of the Rings, Richard III, X-Men, Six Degrees of Separation, Gods and Monsters

Ian McKellen portrays Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s deceased former business partner who is condemned to wander the earth as a ghost, burdened by the consequences of his selfish ways. Much like Scrooge, Marley spent his life prioritizing wealth and personal gain over compassion for others. Now forced to endure an eternity of suffering, he makes one last attempt to spare his former partner from the same fate.

Unlike the three spirits who follow him, Marley retains a much more human appearance, resembling an elderly Victorian gentleman rather than a frightening supernatural creature. His ghostly presence is still apparent, however, particularly through the heavy chains that constantly drag behind him, a punishment for the selfish choices he made during his lifetime.

Freddie Lee-Grey as Tiny Tim

Known from: Lord of the Flies

Freddie Lee-Grey plays Tiny Tim, the youngest son of Bob Cratchit and one of the most beloved constant characters in A Christmas Carol. Despite living in poverty and struggling with a serious illness that affects his mobility, Tiny Tim remains cheerful, sweet and remarkably optimistic. He relies on a crutch to walk but refuses to let his physical limitations diminish his excitement for Christmas or his appreciation for his loving family.

Tiny Tim’s kindness and innocence sharply contrast Scrooge’s bitterness. Although his family has very little money, their home is filled with warmth and affection, and Tim finds happiness in the simplest moments spent with his loved ones.

Ian Midlane as Mr. Fezziwig

Known from: Doctors, Young Sherlock, Star City, The Sarah Jane Adventures

Ian Midlane portrays Mr. Fezziwig, Scrooge’s former employer and a cheerful, generous businessman who played an important role in his younger years. Unlike the coldhearted employer Scrooge eventually becomes, Fezziwig treats his employees with kindness and respect, believing that running a successful business doesn’t have to come at the expense of other people’s happiness.

Known for his jovial personality and love of Christmas, Fezziwig creates a welcoming atmosphere for those around him. His festive celebrations are filled with music, dancing and laughter. Fezziwig’s kindness and happiness leaves a lasting impression on Scrooge, even if he eventually abandons many of the values his former employer tried to instill in him.

Zac Wishart as Peter Cratchit

Known from: Hamnet

Zac Wishart plays Peter Cratchit, one of Bob Cratchit’s children and the older brother of Tiny Tim. Growing up in the Cratchit household, Peter shares his family’s appreciation for Christmas, finding joy in spending time together despite their limited means. His relationship with his siblings, particularly Tiny Tim, reflects the close-knit nature of the Cratchit household, where love and generosity remain important even during difficult times.

Eva Wishart as Martha Cratchit

Known from: Hamnet

Eva Wishart portrays Martha Cratchit, one of Bob Cratchit’s older children and the sister of Peter and Tiny Tim. As one of the older siblings, Martha is beginning to experience the responsibilities of adulthood. In Dickens’ original story, she works away from home and returns to celebrate Christmas with her family, making her arrival a particularly happy occasion. Her relationship with her parents and siblings reflects the warmth and affection that define the Cratchit household, even when money is scarce.

Alfie Buck as Child Ebenezer Scrooge

Known from: Ebenezer marks Alfie Buck’s first credited acting role

Alfie Buck portrays Ebenezer Scrooge as a young boy, long before he becomes the wealthy businessman audiences know. As a child, Ebenezer is lonely and emotionally vulnerable, spending much of his early life isolated from his family and longing for the affection and companionship he rarely receives.

When the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge back to his childhood, these painful memories reveal some of the earliest experiences that contributed to his emotional isolation. Revisiting the boy he once was forces Scrooge to confront feelings of abandonment and loneliness that have followed him into adulthood.

Matt Brewer as Scrooge’s Father

Known from: The Essex Serpent, The Boys in the Boat, Frank & Louis

Matt Brewer portrays Ebenezer Scrooge’s emotionally distant father, whose cold and neglectful treatment of his son contributes to his troubled upbringing. In Dickens’ original story, Ebenezer’s father leaves his young son isolated at boarding school rather than welcoming him home for the holidays, an experience that likely contributed to Scrooge’s own resentment toward Christmas.

Nicholas Day as Minister

Known from: The Wolfman, Amazing Grace, Emmerdale Farm, New Tricks, Russian Dolls

Nicholas Day plays a minister in Ebenezer, a religious figure in Victorian London. Although his exact involvement in Scrooge’s story remains unclear, the character likely contributes to the film’s broader themes of faith, morality and responsibility toward others.

Henry Lloyd-Hughes

Known from: We Were the Lucky Ones, Killing Eve, Disclosure Day, The Inbetweeners, The Irregulars

Henry Lloyd-Hughes joins the cast of Ebenezer in a currently undisclosed role. The British actor is known for portraying the intimidating school bully Mark Donovan in The Inbetweeners, tech entrepreneur Aaron Peel in Killing Eve and Sherlock Holmes in Netflix’s supernatural mystery series The Irregulars.

Charlie Murphy

Known from: Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders, Love/Hate, Halo, Obsession, The Capture, Safe Harbor

Irish actress Charlie Murphy also appears in Ebenezer, although details about her character have yet to be revealed. Murphy is best known for playing union activist Jessie Eden in Peaky Blinders, Ann Gallagher in the crime drama Happy Valley and Siobhán Delaney in the Irish series Love/Hate.

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