We all saw the “Ebenezer” trailer a few weeks ago. It was all about Johnny Depp in full geezer makeup and totally in character, as he usually is. The trailer centered on the return of the “master of misfits,” complete with Depp saying directly to the camera, “It’s good to be back.” Many scoffed at what they saw, but what if I were to tell you that the upcoming Ti West-directed film has been testing through the roof?
Here’s Puck’s Matt Belloni reporting on an August 11 test screening of “Ebenezer,” which had Paramount studio heads Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, in Paramus, New Jersey, elated by the post-screening reactions to the film.
The results were promising: The movie scored in the 80s, meaning four-fifths of the audience rated it excellent or very good. That’s great for a first cut—the testing norm for all movies is a 72. More intriguing, and much to the relief of the Paramount executives, Depp scored an 86, which is very high for any actor—the general norm for a lead character is 67—let alone a guy who, just a few years ago, was considered banished and unemployable. Hell, women over 35, who are supposedly turned off by Depp, rated the movie most favorably, with that demographic hitting 90 percent.
We might be entering the era of a Depp comeback this fall. “Ebenezer” doesn’t need to make much money to break even, either, as its budget is only $40 million.
Paramount took the risk of welcoming Depp back to Hollywood, something the other major studios have been reluctant to do, especially after the contentious trial in which his ex-wife, Amber Heard, claimed he was a wife beater and rapist. Depp was ultimately, somewhat, vindicated, and now “Ebenezer” marks his return after eight years away from Hollywood.
According to Belloni, studios are starting to realize that Depp remains a top star and a draw. His Q Score has risen to 27, up from 24 in 2023. Paramount’s internal data also showed that his strong marketability remains. Other studios are monitoring the situation closely.
It gets better for Depp: He’s being eyed for a supporting role in “Pirates of the Caribbean 6,” with Margot Robbie attached as the lead. However, the actress has reportedly been reluctant about the script, which has gone through “three or four iterations,” all of which “failed to convince her.” Krysty Wilson-Cairns (“1917”) is currently writing the latest draft.
Padraic McKinley, who directed this year's "The Weight," is on board to direct from a script by Oscar nominee Steven Knight, suggesting Taylor Sheridan's original draft has been set aside.