Will Ferrell returned as Buddy The Elf at an NHL ice hockey game last night (December 29).
READ MORE: SNL heroes: stunning Saturday Night Live performances by your favourite stars
The star appeared as the iconic character, smoking a cigarette in the stands during Los Angeles Kings’ match against Philadelphia Flyers.
Ferrell is a fan of the Los Angeles Kings and regularly attends their games, but never as Buddy the Elf.
FanDuel Sports Network broadcaster Carrlyn Bathe spoke to Buddy (Ferrell), who told her that “it was a tough holiday season” and “he’s looking for a Kings win.” In the end, Los Angeles Kings won the match 5-4.
Buddy the Elf isn’t looking too good these days… pic.twitter.com/tGgo6KGFSf
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 30, 2024
Elf pulled in $220million (£175.8million) at the global box office when it was released in 2003 and remains a classic Christmas movie.
Earlier this year, Ferrell revealed that that he drove James Caan “crazy” on the set and he was genuinely annoyed with him during filming.
He said at the time that Caan outright told him he wasn’t funny, and that his acting for the role of Buddy the Elf was over the top.
“James Caan – may he rest in peace, and we had such a good time working on that movie – he would tease me,” Ferrell said. “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.”
Ferrell explained, though, that Caan’s bemusement with his on-screen demeanour only helped to enhance the comedic dynamic between Buddy and his grumpy father.
“I love that the whole time, he’s not acting,” Ferrell continued. “He’s truly annoyed with me. Like, ‘Will this guy shut the fuck up? Jesus!’ So I literally drove him crazy in that movie, just acting like that kid.”
Eventually, though, Caan was won over by Ferrell’s performance style once he saw the completed film.
“We were walking out of the theatre at the premiere, and we walk out together, and he was like – I take it as like the best compliment, cuz he’s coming from James Caan – 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,’” Ferrell recalled. “That was so funny, he’s walking out, shaking his head, going like, ‘Great job. I thought you were way too over the top. But no, it’s brilliant.’”
The post Will Ferrell returns as Buddy The Elf at NHL hockey game appeared first on NME.
