Richard Curtis (L); Will Ferrell inElf(2003).Photo: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; New Line/courtesy Everett Collection
Richard Curtisis singing (loud, for all to hear) praises forWill Ferrell’s portrayal of Buddy the Elf in the 2003 classic Christmas comedyElf.
While attending the Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, the British screenwriter and director, 65, told reporters that he believes Ferrell, 54, should have received anOscarnomination for his work in the beloved holiday film.
“I always get very antsy about the fact that Will Ferrell didn’t get nominated forElf,” Curtis said, according toBBC.
The filmmaker — who has worked on projects includingLove ActuallyandFour Weddings and a Funeral— also explained he was disappointed thatPeter Sellersdidn’t get a nomination for his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau inThe Pink Pantherfilm series.
“But,” he added, per BBC, “it’s the price you pay, as it were.Comediestend to make a bit of money, and then you don’t get the prizes.”
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Will Ferrell inElf(2003).New Line/courtesy Everett Collection
Elfwas a box-office hit, grossing $223 million worldwide and becoming an instant Christmas classic.
“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 told the publication. “And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.’ "
RELATED VIDEO: This Decked-Out Buddy the Elf-Themed Hotel Suite Will Have You Singing Loud For All to Hear
In September 2020, Caan, who played Buddy’s father Walter Hobbs, said onThe Fan in Clevelandthat a sequel was never made due to a reported disagreement between Ferrell and Favreau, 55.
“We were gonna do it,” Caan, 81, 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 and Willdidn’t get along very well,” Caan alleged on the radio show. “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.”
Although fans ofElfhave been clamoring for a sequel since the original film’s release, theSaturday Night Livealum has made it clear that he is not interested in participating.
In December 2013, Ferrell said there would"absolutely not” be a sequel. “It would look slightly pathetic if I tried to squeeze back into the Elf tights,” he joked onBravo’sWatch What Happens Live.
source: people.com
