James Caan, best known for playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather and Buddy’s father in the beloved holiday film Elf, once hinted there was more going on behind the scenes of the 2003 Christmas comedy than fans might suspect. According to Caan, tensions reportedly flared between Elf star Will Ferrell and the film’s director Jon Favreau. It was enough, some say, to keep a sequel from happening, despite the movie’s success.
Still, that behind-the-scenes drama didn’t stop the late actor and Ferrell from developing their own brand of camaraderie. In fact, Caan revealed he didn’t always find Ferrell all that funny on set—though he later admitted he was wrong. He told Ferrell after viewing the final cut of the movie, “I thought everything you were doing was way too over-the-top, but now that I see it in the movie, it’s brilliant.” Ferrell himself joked that Caan wasn’t acting annoyed at Buddy—he was genuinely irritated by his co-star’s constant jokes.
Ferrell, for his part, roasted Caan at wrap with a playfully sassy gift: a note teasing Caan’s performance in The Godfather trilogy. According to director Favreau, Ferrell wrote something along the lines of, “The first one is a little bit slow, but the second two are really good.” The tongue-in-cheek jab worked only because Caan had a “great sense of humor.” Favreau recalled, “If you could make him laugh, all the tension disappears.”
Rumors later spread that Ferrell’s feud with Favreau contributed to the lack of an Elf sequel. Caan himself reportedly mentioned that Ferrell and the director “didn’t get along very well.” The actor claimed Ferrell didn’t want Favreau involved with a second film, sparking disagreements and, ultimately, leaving the project at a standstill. Ferrell later confirmed he turned down a massive offer to reprise his role, citing creative concerns.
Despite all the alleged drama, Elf remains a fan-favorite Christmas classic, buoyed by Ferrell’s sugary-sweet performance and Caan’s gruff yet lovable portrayal of Walter Hobbs. And while many have wondered if there will ever be a sequel, the real gift to fans might just be the knowledge that the on-screen fun was mirrored (at least some of the time) by real-life antics—thanks, in no small part, to the late and unforgettable James Caan.