Ti West to Direct ‘Scrooge’ for Paramount?

Here’s a strange one: a production grid is listing Ti West as involved in a project titled “Scrooge,” with a shoot eyed in Ireland and England. No official word yet on whether it’s an actual Ebenezer Scrooge movie, but the title alone suggests that. Paramount is backing the project.

One thing’s for certain, it ain’t part of the “X” trilogy. West has repeatedly said he’s finished with that franchise, and frankly, it already felt wrapped up with the last instalment, “MaXXXine,” being the weakest of the three.

Back in May 2024, West was teasing a possible idea that he had for a fourth film in the “X” series. He stated that more than a month before the release of “MaXXXine”. The film, starring Mia Goth, then wound up getting a lukewarm response from critics and audiences. A few months later, during an AMA, Ti West put the kibosh on his original plan to expand the trilogy, confirming that “MaXXXine” was indeed the last film and that he is “done” with the franchise.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman shared thoughts, claiming West to be a “good filmmaker” who needs to stop “reconfiguring trash.” He needs to try embedding A-ideas in an A-movie. Paul Schrader had similar sentiments, saying that despite West being a “talented” and “imaginative” filmmaker, was “limited” in his creativity by pursuing “subgenre” fare.

If anything, “Pearl,” with a career-best Mia Goth performance, showed that West could deliver something stylish, atmospheric, terrifying, and original. It played like a technicolor nightmare.

That’s why “MaXXXine” felt like such a letdown. West is clearly capable of more, and lately I’ve been hearing whispers that he’s been chasing financing for a passion project titled “Scream Queen,” which is why this latest “Scrooge” listing feels a tad odd.

Regardless, West is better off going back to originals. “The House of the Devil” and “In a Valley of Violence” showed just how much range he has outside the franchise cycle. At 43, he still has the chops — now it’s just a matter of whether “Scrooge” is his actual next project.