Will Ferrell says the Elf sequel was so bad he had to turn down a $29 million offer
Without Will Ferrell onboard, Elf 2: Buddy Saves Christmas was shelved

Will Ferrell in Elf Screenshot: New Line Cinema
When Elf came out in 2003, it was a massive hit. It became Will Ferrell’s biggest starring role (his role in Zoolander was a supporting one), coming just a year before Anchorman. After the movie did incredibly well at the box office, grossing $220 million, plans for a sequel were discussed. But in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ferrell explains why he decided to turn it down.
The sequel was poorly written reportedly, and though Ferrell was offered $29 million to play Buddy again—but he couldn’t, in good conscience, stand by something he wasn’t proud of just because he’d be making big bucks from it.