Chris Farley Was First Attached to Play Buddy Before Will Ferrell Took Over

Andy Richter, who appeared in a small role in the 2003 comedy “Elf,” co-wrote an oral history with Aaron Karo that details the film’s turbulent development period. The book reveals that the project stalled for nearly ten years before reaching theaters and that comedian Chris Farley was originally attached to play the lead role of Buddy.

The origins of the script trace back to 1993, when writer David Berenbaum moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. During a hot holiday season, he rented VHS copies of classic Christmas films and wrote a script titled “Christmas in New Jersey.” Although that project was optioned, it never entered production. Berenbaum began writing “Elf” on spec in 1995 without payment, drawing inspiration from the 1964 stop-motion special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Berenbaum modeled the character of Buddy on the misfit elf Hermey from that special, while the innocence of the title character influenced his creation. He also cited Tom Hanks’s performance in “Big” as a reference point. In early drafts, both of Buddy’s parents survived, but Berenbaum decided to kill the mother to streamline the narrative. This structural change mirrored Disney films and Grimm fairy tales, allowing the story to focus on Buddy’s search for his father. Berenbaum noted in the book that finding this dynamic made the writing process easier.

The initial option on the script belonged to the Motion Picture Company of America, which had produced “Ulee’s Gold.” Chris Farley, coming off “Saturday Night Live,” was the first actor signed to star. Berenbaum rewrote the script with Farley in mind, and meetings were scheduled but never took place. After one year, the exclusive option expired, leaving the Farley version unmade.

A second option also failed to advance the project. However, the revised script earned Berenbaum a spot in the Disney Writing Program. He spent two years rewriting studio projects, including “The Haunted Mansion,” which opened shortly after “Elf” in 2003. Disney had the chance to produce “Elf” but did not move forward. The book also mentions the 1999 Comedy Central series “Strangers with Candy,” where Richter and Will Ferrell first worked together. The series was produced by Kent Alterman, who later played a key role in getting “Elf” made.

In 2000, producer Jon Berg met with Berenbaum and agreed to manage his career. Berg and producing partner Todd Komarnicki joined as producers, working without pay until the film secured financing. They identified Will Ferrell as the ideal candidate for the lead role. Ferrell recalls receiving a call from Julie Wixson Darmody in Jimmy Miller’s office, who described the premise as a human raised at the North Pole traveling to New York.

Wixson Darmody suggested the script needed work but advised Ferrell to read it. Upon finishing, Ferrell responded, “Oh yeah. I see what you mean. This could be something.” This reaction marked the beginning of the final production phase for the holiday film.

The book, titled “Elf Unwrapped: Behind the Scenes of a Modern Christmas Classic,” provides a detailed account of these events. It outlines the specific creative decisions and business maneuvers that allowed the project to survive multiple failed attempts at production.