“I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place.”
Will Ferrell knows that money isn’t everything.
During a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the Talladega Nights star discussed his successful career in Hollywood and why he turned down a sequel to Elf.
Theo Wargo / WireImage / Getty Images
Although Ferrell was promised a hefty paycheck of $29 million, he said that he didn’t want to do a sequel to the hit movie because the sequel’s storyline was very similar to the original one.
Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
“I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money,'” Ferrell said.
John Phillips / Getty Images
“And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.'”
Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images
James Caan, who plays Ferrell’s father in the movie, previously told the radio show The Fan in Cleveland that a sequel was never made because Ferrell and the director couldn’t get along.
L. Cohen / WireImage for New Line Cinema / Getty Images
“We were gonna do it,” Caan said of the sequel. “And I thought, ‘Oh my god, I finally have a franchise movie. I can make some money, let my kids do what the hell they want to do.'”
However, “The director [Jon Favreau] and Will didn’t get along very well. Will wanted to do it, and he didn’t want the director, and [Favreau] had it in his contract. It was one of those things.”
Theo Wargo / WireImage / Getty Images
Sadly, the sequel to Elf was never made. But at least the original film is still a Christmas classic to this day!
Jeffrey Mayer / WireImage for New Line Cinema / Getty Images
BuzzFeed Daily
Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!
:quality(85):upscale()/2026/07/08/580/n/1922564/f78867556a4e48f63e2a99.33534786_.jpg "Keke Palmer Wowed in a Metallic Corset at Essence Festival – Get Her Look Starting at")
:quality(85):upscale()/2026/07/06/655/n/49352476/b5895de25ab74fb2_imgi_1_733172791_18633218026037720_235082600448149611_n.jpg "Shop J Lo's Wedding Guest Look For Taylor and Travis's Wedding – Starting at")
