Will Ferrell admitted that he harbored significant doubts about the 2003 film "Elf" during its early production. Speaking on Amy Poehler's "Good Hang" podcast, Ferrell recalled looking in the mirror while dressed in his Buddy the Elf costume and questioning his career choices.
"I’m sitting in my trailer in my ‘Elf’ tights, looking in the mirror, going ‘What have you done?’" Ferrell told Poehler. He explained that filming began with scenes set in New York, and he was still uncertain about the character's portrayal. "We shoot the New York stuff first. So I don’t even know if I know who this character is yet and I’m … walking around in yellow tights and [thought] ‘Oh my God. What? This could be it.’"
Ferrell expressed concern about how his performance would be perceived, fearing a public reaction like, "That guy was so funny... and then he made this movie where he played a giant elf." Poehler acknowledged the high stakes, suggesting it was a moment that could either solidify his career with a "genius, classic Christmas movie" or become a significant misstep.
"But I remember going, ‘This is either going to be a home run, or it’s going to be a complete strikeout,’" Ferrell said, reflecting on the film's potential impact on his career trajectory. He also mentioned that after leaving "Saturday Night Live" in 2002, "Elf" was one of the primary projects he pursued. In a 2022 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ferrell echoed this sentiment, stating, "There really wasn’t a pile of scripts waiting for me. It was more like, ‘I’m doing well from the show. I’m pretty well-known. Let’s use this momentum to try.’"
Despite his initial reservations, "Elf" became a beloved holiday classic. Following the film, Ferrell starred in several other successful comedies, including "Anchorman" (2004), "Talladega Nights" (2006), "Blades of Glory" (2007), and "Step Brothers" (2008).