Will Ferrell recently revealed why he decided to don his Elf costume at a Los Angeles Kings game in late December.
The actor, aged 57 and famous for playing Buddy the Elf in the beloved Christmas movie, surprised fans at Crypto.com Arena on December 29 by appearing in costume as the iconic character. However, this portrayal of Buddy came with a twist.
In a reimagination set in 2024, Buddy was depicted with a cigarette and a beer, showcasing a more unkempt and rough appearance. Speaking to a reporter during the event, he mentioned that he had a challenging holiday season and expressed his hopes for a victory for the Kings.
Now, Will has shared the inspiration behind the unusual appearance and explained why Buddy seemed a little rough around the edges.
Speaking on Travis and Jason Kelce‘s New Heights podcast, Will described his vision for Buddy’s updated storyline.
“It seems like Buddy the Elf got fired from the North Pole,” the actor quipped. “He’s seen here enjoying a swig of his beer and smoking a cigarette. It was just a quirky idea that popped into my head.”
Will went on to explain how it all came together: “We’re season ticket holders for the L.A. Kings. We have seats right on the glass, which are amazing. I said, ‘Gosh, over the break, it would be funny if I just got a Buddy the Elf costume and didn’t shave for a week, and I’m just sitting there with a candy cigarette. It’s just a candy cigarette. And I’m just gonna sit there for a period and see how people react.’”
The reaction was, as he described, unforgettable. “The reaction was insane. Like, what is he doing? Is he promoting something? But occasionally I just like to do weird things like that just to stir it up.”
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