Jim Carrey was reportedly the first choice to play Buddy However, by the time the film went into production, Carrey had moved on from the role. Interestingly enough, Carrey did end up playing another iconic Christmas character: the Grinch in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Who was the original choice for Buddy the Elf?

The Original Elf Script Was Written For Jim Carrey

Screenwriter David Berenbaum finished the first draft of Elf in 1993, and he had comedic actor Jim Carrey in mind for the lead role. In 1993, Carrey had been a cast member on In Living Color for three years and was just beginning his rise to super-stardom.

Who else auditioned for Buddy the Elf?

David Berenbaum initially wrote the script in 1993, with Chris Farley and Jim Carrey being early candidates to play Buddy.

Who was offered the role of Buddy in 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 didn't Jim Carrey play Buddy the Elf?

Because screenwriter David Berenbaum had been developing the script since 1993, Will Ferrell's wasn't the first actor to be up for the role of Buddy. Jim Carrey came closest, but turned it down to make Ace Ventura, the movie that would make his name.

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Who was the first choice for the movie Elf?

Jim Carrey was reportedly the first choice to play Buddy

However, by the time the film went into production, Carrey had moved on from the role. Interestingly enough, Carrey did end up playing another iconic Christmas character: the Grinch in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

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.

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!

Who almost played 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.

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 did they make Buddy the Elf look so big?

Then, to make Buddy look larger than the other actors, Ferrell was placed on cleverly concealed platforms. In the elf classroom, Buddy's desk sits on an elevated platform in the foreground with the other desks on the ground.

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.

Is Buddy in Elf autistic?

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but there is absolutely no way Buddy has autism. He spent the entire movie INTERACTING with people.

Who did Buddy the Elf marry?

Papa Elf also reveals that Buddy and Jovie married and had a daughter named Susie, and that they visit the North Pole periodically.

Who was the first pick for Elf?

– Will Ferrell was not the original choice for Buddy the Elf. Back when the script was first being shopped around in the 90s, producers wanted Jim Carrey to play the goofy lead.

What is Buddy's real name?

Simmie Sims III (born September 10, 1993), known professionally as Buddy, is an American rapper, singer, and dancer. Previously on the I Am Other label, he is now signed to Cool Lil Company and RCA Records.

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 meant to play 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.

Why is 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.

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.

How much did James Caan make 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.”

How old was Will Ferrell in Elf was filmed?

This actually makes Buddy a fair amount younger than Will Ferrell himself, who was 35 years old at the time of Elf's filming, and 36 when the movie was released to theaters.

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.

Will Ferrell eat in Elf?

Will Ferrell actually ate Buddy's super-sweet meals. It would be hard to fake those shots. Warner Bros. Buddy eats plenty of sugary concoctions throughout the movie, but his most memorable meal may be the spaghetti he tops with marshmallows, Hershey's syrup, M&M's, and chocolate Pop-Tarts.

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.