Johnny Depp reportedly takes pay cut for comeback with ‘Ebenezer’ after defamation

The Paramount production reportedly cost $38m, with box office bonuses potentially boosting Depp’s earnings

Johnny Depp is reportedly earning a fraction of his previous Hollywood pay for his return to a major film role, with the actor said to have received $5 million for Ebenezer, according to Variety.

The Christmas adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol marks Depp’s first major film in eight years. He plays Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser at the centre of the classic story, appearing under extensive prosthetics and make-up.

The reported salary is considerably lower than the amounts Depp commanded before the controversy surrounding his legal battles with former wife Amber Heard. However, his contract could allow him to earn additional bonuses if the film performs well at the box office.

Paramount Pictures is distributing the production, which reportedly carries a budget of $38 million. It is also reported that marketing costs could reach approximately $50 million. Box office tracking cited by the publication projects an opening weekend of around $20 million in the United States, with a further $20 million expected across international markets.

Depp’s future in major franchises could also depend on how audiences respond to his return. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has previously confirmed that discussions have taken place about bringing the actor back for another Pirates of the Caribbean film, with work on a screenplay reportedly under way.

Depp’s former agent, Jack Whigham, claimed during the actor’s legal dispute with Heard that he had been expected to earn $22.5 million for another Pirates instalment before the controversy disrupted those plans.

Depp was also removed from the Fantastic Beasts franchise in 2020, after losing his UK libel case against The Sun. He later won his US defamation case against Heard, although she succeeded on one counterclaim.

His reported Ebenezer salary offers a measure of how much his position in Hollywood has changed. Whether the film helps restore his former earning power will depend partly on its reception and commercial performance.