David Berenbaum initially wrote the script in 1993, with Chris Farley and Jim Carrey being early candidates to play Buddy. Berenbaum's screenplay underwent uncredited rewrites by Scot Armstrong, Chris Henchy, and the writing team of Adam McKay and Will Ferrell.

Who else was supposed to play Elf?

1. Jim Carrey was initially eyed to play Buddy in Elf. When David Berenbaum's spec script first emerged in 1993, Carrey was pre-Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and attached to front the Christmas film.

Who turned down the role of 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 originally casted for Elf?

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.

Who was almost cast as 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.

Adley SiNG and DANCE Recital 🎤 Navey loves watching Adleys song! Snowy Elf trapped inside a balloon

Who was the first choice for Elf?

Jim Carrey was originally considered for the role of Buddy the Elf, but Will Ferrell ultimately brought the iconic character to life. The original script for Elf was much darker, but director Jon Favreau rewrote it to make it more family-friendly and PG-rated.

What actors were considered for Buddy in Elf?

David Berenbaum initially wrote the script in 1993, with Chris Farley and Jim Carrey being early candidates to play Buddy. Berenbaum's screenplay underwent uncredited rewrites by Scot Armstrong, Chris Henchy, and the writing team of Adam McKay and Will Ferrell.

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 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.

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.

Why did Will Ferrell not 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.

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.

Who was supposed to play Wanda in Elf?

According to the "Elf" episode of Netflix's "The Holiday Movies That Made Us," producer Jon Berg said that they originally wanted Wanda Sykes to play the role, but she dropped out at the last minute. It was Love's decision to wear the "Wanda" name tag — which they preemptively made for Sykes — in the film.

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.

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.

Does Jovie really sing in Elf?

Actor sang Ella Fitzgerald's 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'

Elf star Zooey Deschanel has revealed that the scene where she sings in the shower was not in the original script of the film. The 2003 Christmas movie starred Deschanel as department store employee Jovie, opposite Will Ferrell's Buddy the Elf.

How did they make Buddy look so big in Elf?

The North Pole sets were built for perspective.

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 was Elf filmed?

We have known for two decades that Vancouver played a big role in the film production of New Line Cinema's Elf, and it has since become a contemporary Christmas cult classic.

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 was supposed to play Elf in Elf?

Will Farrell wasn't originally slated to play Buddy. The original script for the movie in the early 1990s had comedian Jim Carrey chosen to star in the role of Buddy the Elf. Turns out, Carrey ended up playing a very different Christmas character in the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Was Jim Carrey in Elf?

The first script for Elf was written way back in 1993 with Jim Carrey in mind to play Buddy. However, as the project took years to get off the ground, The Mask star never ended up taking on the role.

Who turned down the role of Buddy the Elf?

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 else almost played 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.

What was improvised 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.