Cinema VinesOn Thursday, the opening day of Comic‑Con International in San Diego, actor Johnny Depp surprised attendees by taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Dressed in a top hat and an overcoat, he emerged from a faux snow‑lined storefront marked “Scrooge and Marley,” and launched into a mock‑scolding of the crowd: “Do you have jobs? It seems as though you have so much spare time. Why are you here?” He followed up with, “I can only say you’re all very, very strange people. Humbug!” before shuffling back inside the building. The scene was captured on cellphones as fans shouted “Merry Christmas!” in response.
Depp’s street‑level appearance is part of the guerrilla‑style promotion for his upcoming film Ebenezer, set to hit theaters on November 13. The movie marks the actor’s first studio release in eight years. The promotion, which took place outside any official panel, reflects a trend among Hollywood studios to engage fans in more spontaneous, on‑the‑ground marketing tactics at major conventions.
Comic‑Con 2026 is expected to draw more than 120,000 visitors over its four‑day run. The event, which began in 1970 with a handful of sci‑fi and comic fans and a live appearance by Marvel icon Jack Kirby, has grown into a sprawling festival that includes cosplay contests, autograph booths, obstacle courses, concerts and panels. Organizers have warned that San Diego’s venue and hotel capacity may soon be insufficient for the swelling crowds, and have floated the possibility of moving the convention to Los Angeles or another large city. Mayor Todd Gloria, however, announced that the city will keep the event in San Diego through 2030, citing a shared commitment to the fans, creators, businesses and workers that make the convention unique.
One of the convention’s highlights was a panel on vampire storytelling featuring K‑pop group ENHYPEN, director Catherine Hardwicke of the original Twilight film, and actors Peter Facinelli and Ashley Greene. The session underscored the growing cross‑pop‑culture exchanges that have become a staple of Comic‑Con. Fans from diverse fandoms converged in the Bayfront area, showcasing handmade costumes and exchanging photos.
Among the attendees was 44‑year‑old PJ Richardson from Orlando, Florida, who drove across the country with his family for his first Comic‑Con International. He described the experience as “the Mecca” and noted that the scale of the booths and displays was “a thousand times more” than the smaller convention he had attended in his hometown. Meanwhile, 27‑year‑old Brionna Slavalk traveled from Indiana to dress as the elf paladin Vaelus from the Dungeons & Dragons‑themed web series Critical Role, complete with purple body paint. She praised the creativity of other cosplayers, noting the impressive work of a “red” fan from Hazbin Hotel and a trio of Doctor Dooms.
