Why Will Ferrell Said No to $29 Million for an ‘Elf’ Sequel

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Will Ferrell revealed he passed on a $29 million offer to reprise his role as Buddy the Elf in a sequel to the beloved 2003 holiday movie, Elf. He told The Hollywood Reporter he simply didn’t think a second film would be a good idea, despite the large sum of money offered.

Will Ferrell turned down a sequel because the script felt too similar to the first movie. He explained that he’d have to promote it knowing it wasn’t great, and he wasn’t willing to do that just for a large paycheck, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Ferrell explained he questioned whether he could even bring himself to say the lines, and because he didn’t think he could, he almost decided not to make the film.

People often ask Will Ferrell about making sequels to his movies. Back in 2017, while on the show Watch What Happens Live, he was asked if he’d ever consider another Elf or A Night at the Roxbury film. He playfully said, “I’ve got great news for you,” then immediately clarified, “No.”

For years, director Jon Favreau and other actors have hinted at the possibility of making another Elf movie. Back in 2013, there were rumors Favreau wanted to create a sequel called Elf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas, but Will Ferrell consistently said he wasn’t interested in returning. By 2023, Favreau confirmed there were no plans for a follow-up, explaining that the original film felt complete and he wasn’t sure what a new story would be about.

I’ve heard Will Ferrell talk about this a few times, and he’s pretty firm about not doing sequels unless there’s a really good reason to tell another story. He feels like Elf had a perfect, complete ending, and he wouldn’t want to revisit that world just to make more money – it just wouldn’t feel authentic to him.

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2025-12-07 12:44