In a surprising twist, Will Ferrell, dressed as Buddy the Elf, was seen at an NHL game on December 29, 2024. The actor, known for his iconic role in the holiday film Elf, was attending the game between the L.A. Kings and Philadelphia Flyers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. However, this appearance was far from the cheerful, innocent Buddy fans remember.
Ferrell, seated beside his wife, Viveca Paulin, and their 14-year-old son, Axel, appeared noticeably disgruntled. As the game unfolded, he looked less than thrilled, holding a beer and smoking a cigarette. His expression seemed to suggest that things weren’t going well, both for the game and for him personally. Commenting on Ferrell’s uncharacteristic behavior, FanDuel Sports Network reporter Carrlyn Bathe shared on social media that it was great for long-time fans of the Elf character.
Buddy the Elf is famously a huge Kings fan, as Bathe pointed out during the broadcast, but this time, his mood was much different from the joyous figure seen in the movie. The camera captured Ferrell with a 5 o’clock shadow, a cigarette in hand, and looking quite disgruntled. Bathe humorously remarked that it must have been a tough holiday season for him, while also noting that Ferrell seemed to be hoping for a Kings win. The game at the time was tied, and the actor’s frustration appeared to be mounting as the action unfolded on the ice.
Ferrell’s role in Elf revolves around Buddy, who discovers he’s actually human and travels to New York City to reconnect with his father. Reflecting on his time filming the movie, Ferrell shared a humorous story in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He described running through New York City in his Buddy costume and fearing that the film might end his career. Despite the anxiety, the film became a massive success, and Ferrell was proven wrong about his worries.
Though Elf remains a fan favorite, Ferrell has no plans for a sequel. He revealed in an interview that he turned down a $29 million offer to return for a follow-up film. According to Ferrell, the storyline for the proposed sequel didn’t appeal to him, and he couldn’t accept the offer knowing he wouldn’t be able to promote it genuinely. The actor admitted that promoting a film from an “honest place” would have been difficult if he didn’t believe in the project.
Fans of the holiday classic were left hoping for more, but with Ferrell’s firm stance against a sequel, it seems Elf will remain a standalone masterpiece.
