If you haven’t already seen the snap of Will Ferrell dressed up as a rundown Buddy the Elf then you’re in luck.

The comedian went viral last month as he decided to attend a hockey game between Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers on December 29, which ended in a 5-4 win for LA, while donning a replica of the famed costume he wore more than two decades ago shooting the Christmas epic Elf.

But it wasn’t the Buddy we recognized, this elf had a cigarette in his mouth with scraggy-looking facial hair and a pint of beer – he looked as if he’d just finished a gruelling shift in Santa’s workshop.

He spoke to FanDuel Sports Network broadcaster Carrlyn Bathe during the night, with the 57-year-old telling the reporter ‘it was a tough holiday season’ and that ‘he’s looking for a Kings win’.

Immediately, there was speculation that we could be about to witness a sequel to Elf, but unfortunately, that was never on the cards.

The esteemed actor set the record straight while appearing as a guest on NFL stars, and brothers, Jason and Travis Kelce‘s New Heights podcast.

Ferrell dressed up as Buddy as he watched hockey (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

When asked what was going on, Ferrell replied: “Buddy the Elf got laid off, I think, from the North Pole.

“He’s having a pull from his beer, smoking a cig. That was just… I get these weird ideas every now and then. We’re season ticket holders for the LA Kings. We have seats right on the glass.

“I told my wife, ‘Over the break, it would be funny if I just got a Buddy the Elf costume and didn’t shave for a week, and I’m just sitting there with a candy cigarette and I’m just gonna sit there for a period and see how people react.'”

He continued: “The reaction was insane!

“Like, what is he doing? Is he promoting something? But occasionally I just like to do weird things like that just to stir it up.'”

Buddy has had a rough festive period (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Ferrell’s high energy performance as Buddy in Elf helped carry the film, although paired with his late co-star James Caan, who played Buddy’s dad, a perfect combo was reached.

Caan passed away in 2022, while Bob Newhart, who played Papa Elf, also died in July last year.

Earlier this year, Ferrell revealed that Caan didn’t find him very funny, as he claimed that Caan, who played Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, had told him he didn’t ‘get’ the actor during an appearance on the MeSsy podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

“James Caan – may he rest in peace, and we had such a good time working on that movie – he would tease me,” Ferrell said, as he spoke fondly of his co-star.

Will Ferrell has revealed a hilarious detail about the production of one of his most popular movies – Elf.

The iconic film sees Buddy, a human raised by Santa’s elves, returning to New York City after finding out he’s adopted to find his biological father.

Ferrell’s high energy performance as Buddy carried the film, with Buddy’s side-splitting childlike antics causing chaos in all the wrong settings.

But while the Zoolander star is undoubtedly at the heart of the movie, there’s one aspect which takes it to another level.

If the history of comedy has taught us anything, it’s that any great clown needs a straight-man to act as a foil to their ridiculousness.

In the case of Elf, this was provided by his co-star James Caan, who played Buddy’s dad.

And in a moment of life imitating art, Ferrell revealed that Caan, who passed away in 2022, didn’t have to try very hard to balance out Ferrell’s performance, as he actually didn’t find him very funny.

Will Ferrell and James Caan in Elf (New Line Cinema)

Ferrell revealed that Caan had told him he didn’t ‘get’ Ferrell in an appearance on the MeSsy podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

He said: “James Caan – may he rest in peace, and we had such a good time working on that movie – he would tease me.

“We’d be in between setups, he was like, ‘I don’t get you. You’re not funny. “You’re not funny.’ And I’m like, ‘I know! I’m not Robin Williams.’

“He’s like, ‘People ask me, ‘Is he funny?’ And I’m like, ‘No, he’s not funny!’ It was all with love.”

And this impacted how the characters interplayed in the movie as well, which, of course, Ferrell played into.

The SNL star said: “I love that the whole time, he’s not acting. He’s truly annoyed with me.

Will Ferrell in Elf. (New Line Cinema)

“Like, ‘Will this guy shut the f**k up? Jesus!’ So I literally drove him crazy in that movie, just acting like that kid.”

The actor went on to say that there had been different plans for Caan’s character, with Buddy’s stressed dad losing his temper far earlier.

Ferrell explained that Caan had changed this, saying: “He wanted to save it til that moment in the boardroom where he kicks me out and kicks me out of this life, like, ‘No, it’s gotta be this slow build.’

“And he was totally right.”

When he saw the finished movie, Caan changed his mind about Ferrell’s performance, with the Anchorman star recalling: “He’s like, ‘I gotta tell you, I thought everything you were doing while we were filming was way too over-the-top.

“Now that I see it in the movie, it’s brilliant.’”

As film fans across the world sit down to watch their favourite Christmas films to get into the festive spirit, many of us are pondering why – in the age of the sequel, prequel, reboot and spinoff – one of the most loved never got a second instalment.

Yep, while there’s probably a large majority of the Earth’s population who would kill to see Will Ferrell back in his role as Buddy the Elf, tensions between the actor and director Jon Favreau mean it will probably never happen.

Seventeen years after its release, Elf remains one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time. Buddy’s excitement about Santa and his love for Christmas in general never fails to get people in the holiday spirit, so it’s understandable that fans have demanded to see more of Buddy in the years since the film’s release.

The 2003 comedy was directed by Jon Favreau, who is also known for producing films such as Iron Man for the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and for starring as Monica’s mixed martial arts obsessed boyfriend Pete in Friends.

Though Elf is undoubtedly a masterpiece, it seems things weren’t always as jolly behind the camera as they were on screen.

During an interview with 92.3 Sports Radio, as per MovieWeb, actor James Caan revealed that ‘the director and Will didn’t get along very well.’

New Line Cinema

Caan, who played Buddy’s dad Walter in the film, discussed the possibility of a sequel and admitted that he believed he’d ‘finally got a franchise movie’ that would allow him to ‘make some money’ and let his kids ‘do what the hell they want to do’.

However, due to tensions between Favreau and Ferrell, the actor had in his contract that he didn’t want to work on a sequel that had Favreau as director.

Caan commented: “Will wanted to do it, he didn’t want the director… it was one of those things.”

The possibility of an Elf sequel is one that has been teased a couple of times over the years, with rumours of Favreau being involved with Elf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas 10 years after the release of the original film and the director raising the topic again a few years ago.

Ferrell and Favreau have not publicly discussed their relationship behind-the-scenes, and neither has commented on Caan’s recent revelations, but for whatever reason, Ferrell has remained firm on his decision not to bring back Buddy.

The actor even turned down a whopping $29 million for a sequel, telling The Guardian that while the huge chunk of money seems like a lot ‘for a guy to wear tights’, he ‘never liked’ the idea of a sequel.

Ferrell has reportedly claimed he doesn’t like sequels in general, though he has been part of a few in the past including Anchorman 2 and Zoolander 2.

It would probably take a Christmas miracle for an Elf sequel to happen, but that doesn’t mean fans can’t hold out hope!

Will Ferrell has revealed the acting job he believes was the ‘hardest’ — and his answer may surprise you.

The beloved actor, 57, has an impressive resume; we’re talking about Buddy the elf, sex addict and figure skater Chazz Michael Michaels, and San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy. He’s done a lot in his film and TV career.

But pretending to be a whimsical elf or learning how to skate on ice were not the toughest jobs for Ferrell, believe it or not.

Despite all of his hilarious film roles, the acting job that he describes as being a mix of fun and hard work is starring on Saturday Night Live.

During his stint on the long-running NBC series, Ferrell took part in a huge number of well-known and often quoted sketches, including ‘More Cowbell’, ‘Spartan Cheerleaders at Tryouts’, ‘Dr. Beaman’s Office: Test Results’, and a 2002 ‘Weekend Update’ skit with Britney Spears.

He also cracked people up with his impressions of George W. Bush, Dr. Phil, and Alex Trebek.

Will Ferrell and Britney Spears on SNL in 2002 (NBC/YouTube)

Between 1995 to 2002, Ferrell was a main member on the iconic sketch comedy show. Now that the show is celebrating its historic 50th season, Ferrell is feeling nostalgic.

“I had a wonderful seven seasons on that show, where I made lifelong friends,” he told People.

“I knew in that moment it would be the hardest but most fun job I would ever get to do, and I still look back on it that way.

“It’s really an amazing thing that you have this live television show that still continues to put its finger on the pulse of what we’re all thinking about, and it’s a real credit to [creator] Lorne [Michaels] or having thought of it in the first place.”

He added: “It was the one thing I always dreamed about being a part of. “It’s kind of enormous to think about in a way, 50 years of what has really defined American comedy.”

With Christmas fast approaching, the time has come to re-watch Elf. Let’s face it, regardless of how many times you watch Buddy search for his dad in New York city, it never gets old.

Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on SNL in 2001 (NBC/YouTube)

Ferrell has shared details from behind the scenes of the 2003 festive comedy, including the time he made his on-screen dad, the late James Caan, a little mad.

The Barbie actor revealed that Caan, who passed away in 2022, didn’t have to try very hard to balance out Ferrell’s performance, as he actually didn’t find him very funny.

He said: “James Caan – may he rest in peace, and we had such a good time working on that movie – he would tease me.

“We’d be in between setups, he was like, ‘I don’t get you. You’re not funny.’ And I’m like, ‘I know! I’m not Robin Williams.’

“He’s like, ‘People ask me, ‘Is he funny?’ And I’m like, ‘No, he’s not funny!’ It was all with love.”