Will Ferrell arrives as Buddy the Elf to NHL game but adds cigarette and beard after ‘tough holiday season’

ELF fans finally got an update on our beloved Buddy The Elf – though it’s not quite the sequel we were expecting. 

Comedian Will Ferrell donned his iconic green elf outfit for a trip to an NHL game with his wife and son, but showed the ever-bubbly Buddy having a bit of a crisis. 

After what was sure to have been a busy Christmas season, Buddy looked a little worse for wear, with a dishevelled beard and a cigarette out of his mouth. 

A far cry from the syrup-loving, energetic character we know, Buddy was instead seen downing a pint from the sidelines as he watched the Los Angeles Kings take on the Philadelphia Flyers.

“Buddy” later spoke to reporters at the game, saying it was a “tough holiday season” and he was hoping for a Kings win.

In a Christmas miracle, it seems he got his wish – so let’s hope he’s feeling a bit more spirited now. 

Unfortunately for fans, this is likely the closest we’ll get to a follow-up to the 2003 feelgood film, with Will admitting he turned down a $29million paycheque to appear in the sequel. 

Speaking to Hollywood Reporter in 2021, Will said he had “no regrets” saying no to the movie, and explained: “I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money,’ and I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.’”

The story of Elf sees Will star as Buddy, a human who, as a baby, sneaked into Santa's sack on Christmas day.

Only discovered when Santa returned to the North Pole, he was raised by the elves as one of their own – with Buddy oblivious to his true nature as he grew up.

When he finds out the truth, he decides to travel to New York City to find his dad, who is a successful businessman who is hardened to the joy of Christmas.

Over the course of the film, Buddy learns about living in the human world, while also spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear.

Naturally, that comes with a fair amount of chaos - with Buddy's insatiable desire for sugar seeing him buzzing around Manhattan and running into trouble.

The movie grossed $220million and quickly became a Christmas staple watch around the world, in line with Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street.

James Caan played his irritated father, with Zooey Deschanel playing Buddy's love interest who helps him adjust to his new life.