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.

Did Will Ferrell get along with James Caan in Elf?

But when Caan met him in person for the hilarious festive film, he couldn't stand him. Caan told Ferrell to his face: "I don't find you funny." He then went on to describe Ferrell in a nasty way to reporters and anyone else who would listen. He said of the Step Brothers funnyman: "He's the dullest person I've ever met.

Who was the first choice for Elf?

The Original Elf Script Was Written For Jim Carrey

Given his wild and zany characters on In Living Color, Carrey was seen as a natural for the goofiness and playfulness needed to play Buddy the Elf. That casting was not meant to be, however, as Berenbaum's version of the movie never got made.

How old was Will Ferrell during Elf?

Will Ferrell was 36 years old when he made the iconic Christmas movie, Elf. Released in 2003, Elf quickly became a beloved holiday classic, charming audiences with its heartwarming story and Ferrell's comedic brilliance.

How much did Will Ferrell get paid for Elf?

Elf was Will Ferrell's second box office hit. He reportedly received a whopping salary of $17 million for that film alone, more on par with what his talents would dictate in the mid-2000s. He was allegedly offered $29 million to act in an Elf sequel, but couldn't get his heart into it, so he turned it down.

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Why did Will Ferrell refuse to do Elf 2?

Will Ferrell turned down a reported $29 million to make a sequel to "Elf." He told THR he turned it down because he couldn't promote it from "an honest place." Last year, his "Elf" costar James Caan said Ferrell and director Jon Favreau didn't get along.

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.

Where did they film Elf?

Principal photography began on December 9, 2002, and wrapped on March 7, 2003. Filming took place in New York City, as well as in Vancouver and at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The film makes heavy use of forced perspective to exaggerate the size of Buddy compared to all the other elves.

Did Zooey Deschanel really sing in the movie Elf?

Deschanel made her on-screen singing debut in The New Guy (2002). In Elf (2003), she sings "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Will Ferrell in the bathroom shower scene, "Auld Lang Syne" with James Caan on piano and with Leon Redbone on the soundtrack.

Who else auditioned for Elf?

Jim Carrey was supposed to play Buddy the Elf.

Although Jim Carrey didn't end up in this film you probably recognise him as playing The Grinch. An actor called Chris Farley was also asked to play Buddy but the writer of Elf didn't think he was a good fit. It took years before they found the perfect Buddy.

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!

Why did Jim Carrey not play Elf?

Jim Carrey was initially eyed to play Buddy in Elf.

However, it took another 10 years to get the project in motion, at which time Saturday Night Live star Will Ferrell was signed to star.

Why is Zooey Deschanel's hair blonde in Elf?

“I had to dye my hair blonde for a screen test for a movie that never happened before I did Elf,” Deschanel told Stylecaster in a March 2019 interview. “I went in for the meeting for Elf, and then I asked them, 'Could I dye my hair back to my natural color?

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.”

Did Will Ferrell improvise Elf?

“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.

How old was James Caan in the movie The 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.

Why does Jovie shower in Elf?

The next morning, Jovie took a shower in the women's locker room because her building's water was shut off. She sang the female part of "Baby, It's Cold Outside".

Are Zooey and Emily Deschanel twins?

Not only are Zooey's parents established members of the entertainment industry, but her sister Emily Deschanel is a famous actress as well. Despite their identical looks, they aren't twins; Emily, 47, was born in 1976, while Zooey, 44, was born in 1980.

Who is the shower girl in the movie Elf?

And that's exactly what Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell did in the beloved 2003 film Elf. As fans of the holiday film may remember, the duo shared an iconic scene together that involved singing in a restroom.

Is the coffee shop in Elf real?

However, it's worth noting that 2003, when the film was made, there wasn't a coffee shop at 20 East Hastings Street. Instead, the location was home to a long-standing seafood restaurant, The Only Sea Food.

What scenes in 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.

Why did they use gimbels in Elf?

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.

Why did Will Ferrell not do 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 is the baby at the end of Elf?

Gender. Susie Hobbs is the daughter of Buddy and Jovie, the granddaughter of Walter Hobbs and Susan Wells, the adopted granddaughter of Papa Elf, the step granddaughter of Emily Hobbs and the half-niece of Michael Hobbs. She's shown at the end of the movie when Buddy and Jovie are married and visit Santa.

Who was the original choice for Elf?

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. However, by the time the film went into production, Carrey had moved on from the role.