The interaction between Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf and Artie Lange, as the department store Santa who “smells like beef and cheese,” was mostly improvised over several takes, Favreau said. But he said the actual fight between the characters had to be done in one take.

How much of the movie Elf was improvised?

“Elf” (2003) The Christmas classic “Elf” gave Will Ferrell ample opportunity to explore his character, inside and out. In the scene where Buddy explores New York City, the bulk of his onscreen antics were improvised.

What parts of Elf were real?

– The outdoor scenes shot in New York City feature real people so many of the reactions you see are genuine! – In fact, several minor traffic accidents occurred when Will Ferrell walked through the Lincoln Tunnel in his costume, because people were so surprised and distracted to see a grown man wearing an elf outfit.

Was Elf a low budget film?

The film, starring Will Ferrell and directed by Jon Favreau, who is now best known for his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had a small budget of US$33 million.

How much money was made off of Elf?

Elf was released in the United States on November 7, 2003 by New Line Cinema. It became a major critical and commercial success, grossing $220 million worldwide against a $33 million budget. Ferrell's performance as Buddy in particular was praised by critics.

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How much was James Caan paid for Elf?

However, those first paychecks paved the way for a lifetime of residual income in the form of royalties for Caan. Celebrity Net Worth noted that court documents showed Caan earning $1 million in royalties in 2015, with $140,000 annually from the Christmas classic “Elf.”

Why did Will Ferrell not make Elf 2?

Ferrell told The Hollywood Reporter his decision to table "Elf 2" had nothing to do with money; he reportedly said no to a handsome $29 million to reprise the lovable Buddy. The problem apparently was that the only good thing about the potential sequel was the paycheck.

Who was supposed to play Walter Hobbs in Elf?

James Caan plays Walter Hobbs, Buddy's biological father. That's quite the get for the film. He wasn't the first choice, though. Garry Shandling, best known for his seminal sitcom “The Larry Sanders Show,” was offered the role but turned it down.

Who turned down the movie Elf?

1. Jim Carrey as Buddy the Elf in Elf. The script for Elf was first written in 1993, and at the time, Carrey was attached to star in it. However, the movie did not immediately go into production, and by the time it did in 2003, Carrey was no longer interested in the role.

Was Elf filmed in a mental hospital?

Interestingly, while the movie is set in New York City and the North Pole, many interior shots were filmed in an abandoned mental hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Riverview Hospital, located in Coquitlam, east of Vancouver, served as the backdrop for these scenes.

What was the unscripted scene in Elf?

Some of Buddy's most iconic lines—"You smell like beef and cheese!" and "You sit on a throne of lies!"—were improvised by Ferrell in the moment. 16. The big fight scene between Buddy and the fake Santa, played by comedian Artie Lange, was filmed in one take because it took the art department weeks to decorate Gimbels.

Did James Caan really play the piano in Elf?

James Caan was a true delight. My favorite memory of him was shooting part of a montage for the end of Elf and he started playing piano — he played beautifully — I sang and he played and I was just astonished by his talent!

Was Will Ferrell the first choice for Elf?

Elf was in development for 10 years before it reached the big screen, going through several rewrites and changes in studio and casting influences. Jim Carrey was originally considered for the role of Buddy the Elf, but Will Ferrell ultimately brought the iconic character to life.

How did they film Elf look so big?

The teams worked with a two-thirds scale that would allow Ferrell to seem bigger than his elven counterparts. Afterward, the crew would adjust the height of the cameras and objects to bring the optical illusion to life.

Why didn t Jim Carrey play Elf?

Berenbaum finished the first draft of Elf in 1993 with In Living Color alum, Jim Carrey in mind for the lead role, with a much darker undertone of the film — but Carey wasn't meant to be in the role. The version featuring Carey was never made, and the script sat idle for years.

Is Gimbels from Elf a real store?

Fun fact: Producers wanted to feature the famous Macy's 34th street location, the largest store in the world, but Macy's refused to have their name used. So they settled on Gimbels, a now defunct NY department store–the exterior was shot at 5th Avenue and E 30th St and decorated with CGI.

How old was James Caan during Elf?

James Caan stars in Elf with Will Ferrell in 2003

The legendary actor was 82-years-old and had enjoyed an incredible 60-year career. During his time on the big screen he starred in some iconic pictures such as The Godfather, Dick Tracy and The Rain People to name but a few.

How old was Zooey Deschanel in Elf?

I was only 21 when I made that movie. I remember sitting—I was at my parents' house because I basically just dropped out of college to be an actor—and I remember sitting at my parents' house reading that script and laughing out loud. Since then, I've seen that that's a good sign." Deschanel said.

What happened to Buddy the Elf's mom?

Papa Elf reveals that Buddy was born to Walter Hobbs (James Caan) and Susan Wells and given up for adoption and that Walter never knew of his existence. He explains how Susan later died and that Walter now works at a children's book company in New York City.

Who almost played Buddy in Elf?

Summary. Elf could have been a very different movie if Jim Carrey had been cast as Buddy the Elf instead of Will Ferrell, as Carrey's comedic style is more over-the-top and bombastic.

Did the cast of Elf get along?

Elf has gone down in history as one of the most influential and much-loved Christmas movies of all time - but its creation wasn't perfect. Filming was bogged down with issues. On top of cold conditions and script rewrites, the actors didn't get on.

Who was the first choice actor for Elf?

Jim Carrey was reportedly the first choice to play Buddy

Though it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Buddy, Ferrell wasn't the first choice for the titular character. When the script for the movie first emerged in 1993, Jim Carrey was attached to star, per Vulture.

Is Elf 2 really happening?

Elf sequel will 'never happen' because of Will Ferrell's relationship with co-star. Before his death in July 2022, James Caan shed some light on why fans never got a sequel to the hit movie Elf.

Where was Elf filmed?

On discovering his true lineage, Buddy sets off to find his biological father in the legendary land of 'New York City'. There's plenty of real New York on display of course, but most of the interiors were filmed in an abandoned mental hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia.

How much money was Will Ferrell offered for Elf 2?

Will Ferrell Still Has Zero Regrets Over Turning Down $29 Million Offer to Make 'Elf' Sequel. Had Ferrell starred in "Elf 2," he would not have been able to promote it with honesty.