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 old was Zooey Deschanel when she did Elf?

In the interview with Yardbarker, Zooey Deschanel shared her views on choosing to act in the movie. According to Zooey, laughing out loud while reading a comedy script was a good sign. Furthermore, she revealed that she was 21 when she acted in the movie. At that time, she had just left college to pursue acting.

Did Will Ferrell refuse Elf 2?

It was reported that Will was offered a whopping $29million to appear in a sequel but he still refused to budge for the massive pay cheque. Will, who has had previous success with Anchorman 2, Daddy's Home 2 and Zoolander 2, said it would be 'pathetic' to try and remake Elf.

What year was the movie Elf with Will Ferrell made?

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.

Why was Zooey Deschanel 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? ' And they said, 'No.

Will Ferrell Accidentally Distracts Kid Soccer Players Because of ‘Elf’

Who was originally supposed to be in 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.

Where did they film Elf?

Buddy at the North Pole scene in Elf

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.

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.

Was Elf filmed before 9/11?

Elf wears its era much more lightly, combining fantasy elements with a kind of twinkling Miracle on 34th Street charm in a way that would feel wildly risky in less capable hands. But this movie was filmed in New York City at the end of 2002—of course 9/11 is there if you look for it.

Who turned down the Elf role?

The script for Elf was first created in 1993, and Jim Carrey was reportedly ready to play the role of Buddy. But by the time the film came together a decade later, Carrey turned it down for other projects, reportedly also hesitant to book the role after playing the Grinch.

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.

Who was supposed to play Elf instead of Will Ferrell?

The original script for Elf was written with Jim Carrey in mind for the lead role, but it sat in production limbo for a decade before eventually being picked up by Ferrell.

Why is Buddy so childish in Elf?

Born December 18th, Buddy was adopted by elves and Santa Claus as a baby, so he never got to discover how exactly to be human. He developed certain skills like quickly decorating a large space, creating toys in short amounts of time and generally being a good person.

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.

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.

How does Will Ferrell feel about Elf?

Elf Was a Game Changer for Will Ferrell

“I had no idea. The first time we tested the movie we did two screenings. We did one that was more of a family focused audience, and it worked great with them. And then my manager Jimmy called me.

Who are Jim Carrey's friends?

In the first picture, Carrey is front and center as he sits in the middle of the table and his friends including, Jimmy Kimmel, Craig Robinson, Seth Green, Howie Mandel and more surround him.

Were the New York scenes in Elf 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 filmed in a mental hospital?

So if “Elf” wanted to film at the Santaland in Macy's, or even mention Macy's in the movie, the scene had to go. “We had to think long and hard about it,” Favreau told Rolling Stone in 2013. “We ended up filming it in the cafeteria of a mental hospital in Vancouver instead of Macy's …

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.

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 is Will Ferrell so tall in Elf?

Although viewers might expect Ferrell was digitally added to these scenes where he towers over his elf family, friends, and coworkers, the striking result was actually accomplished with practical effects, creating sets that skewed characters' sizes and filming from crafty angles.

Is Gimbels from Elf a real store?

Warner Bros. When the security guards at Walter's office throw Buddy out, they suggest he go back to Santaland at Gimbels. The highly festive store is heavily featured throughout the rest of "Elf," but viewers may not have realized that Gimbels was a real department store in New York City that closed in 1986.

How did Zooey Deschanel get cast in Elf?

Nonetheless, when the actor that Favreau first wanted for Jovie dropped out at the last minute, he needed a new performer with a new special talent. “I remember Jon Favreau telling me that they were catering it to whoever played the part,” Deschanel told EW about building the Jovie character in 2020.