Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, arriving in character to promote his new film and slipping in a sharp joke aimed at President Donald Trump.
The actor took on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, where part of Fifth Street had been dressed up with festive decorations ahead of the movie’s Christmas release.
Covered in ageing prosthetics and dressed in Victorian-era costume, Depp remained fully in character as he wandered through the area, insulting the seasonal displays and addressing onlookers with a voice that some said echoed his Jack Sparrow cadence.
He also interacted with the set dressing inside the enclosed section of the street, including the garlands hanging across the gate.
At one point, the performance shifted from Scrooge’s usual hatred of Christmas into a more political gag. While disputing ownership of the decorated gate, Depp appeared to reference Trump’s tariff agenda.
Reported by Entertainment Weekly, he said: “That’s on my property, which means that I own it,”
“And you’re paying tax on it being there. ’Cause everybody has to pay all that stuff. Putting tariffs on the gate.”
The line came after Depp started tugging at the garlands and complaining about the decorations.
“These are poison!” he said. “Keep these away from children.”
Another performer replied: “We just wanted to bring a little Christmas cheer!”
The moment landed as a timely reference. Trump has continued to push a protectionist trade agenda, even as some of the most sweeping tariffs he imposed under emergency powers were struck down earlier this year and the legal fight over refunds and replacement measures has continued.
Depp’s Comic-Con turn served as an early preview of Ebenezer, the upcoming film from director Ti West, known for X and Pearl.
The project is Depp’s first movie with a major American studio since his widely covered legal dispute with former wife Amber Heard. Paramount Pictures is backing the film, which offers a fresh interpretation of Charles Dickens’ iconic miser and is currently slated for a U.S. theatrical release on Nov. 13, 2026.
Speaking at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April, Depp said the part initially felt intimidating because of how highly he regards Alastair Sim’s performance in the 1951 version of the story.
Depp explained: “That’s no reason not to attempt something…Because if you can find a way of going into this tale that’s known for generations, but just finding different angles on your way into the character and with the film itself.”
He also praised West’s approach to the story, adding: “Ti did something really special, I was just sort of around for laughs.”
The cast also features Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Grint, Ian McKellen, Daisy Ridley and Sam Claflin, with Charlie Murphy, Arthur Conti and Ellie Bamber also appearing.
Ebenezer is due to open in US cinemas on Nov. 13, arriving just ahead of the holiday season.
