{"id":2520521,"date":"2026-07-28T14:22:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2520521"},"modified":"2026-07-28T14:22:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:22:53","slug":"will-ferrell-says-one-actor-was-confident-in-the-success-of-elf-during-his-set-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/will-ferrell-says-one-actor-was-confident-in-the-success-of-elf-during-his-set-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Ferrell Says One Actor Was Confident in the Success of \u201cElf\u201d During His Set Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\" data-body-type=\"bodyblocks\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Will Ferrell says Ted Danson predicted <em>Elf<\/em>&#8216;s success during a set visit while supporting his wife Mary Steenburgen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ferrell recalls initial doubts about the film, fearing audiences might not embrace its family-friendly tone<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 safari:ml-6 list-disc\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Elf<\/em> became a holiday classic, grossing over $228 million and resonating with both family and college-aged audiences<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Will Ferrell;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/will-ferrell\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Will Ferrell<\/a> says that, while he didn&#8217;t necessarily foresee the overwhelming success of his 2003 film, <em>Elf<\/em>, someone else did: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ted Danson;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/ted-danson\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Ted Danson<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The film starred Ferrell, 59, as the suspiciously tall, titular elf, Buddy, who learns he&#8217;s actually a human and sets out on a quest to find his biological dad in New York City. Danson&#8217;s wife, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mary Steenburgen;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/mary-steenburgen\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Steenburgen<\/a>, starred in the film as Emily, who marries Buddy&#8217;s dad after he fathers his son with another woman and then welcomes Buddy into their home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Speaking on a recent episode of the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Happy Sad Confused;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DY_9byCsTYI\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Happy Sad Confused<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>podcast, Ferrell said Danson, 78, was visiting his wife while they were making the film.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE&#8217;s <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p><em>Will Ferrell as Buddy in &#8216;Elf&#8217; (2003).<\/em><br \/><em>Credit: New Line\/courtesy Everett Collection<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Ted Danson came and visited Mary Steenburgen on set one time,&#8221; Ferrell recounted. &#8220;We were in Vancouver. Like in fact, I have this memory of when we were shooting the scene where we&#8217;re decorating the Christmas tree, and I bounce off the couch and put the star on and then tear the whole thing down.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He continued: &#8220;And Ted was there that day, and he was like, &#8216;This thing&#8217;s going to be gigantic.&#8217; I go, &#8216;How do you know, Ted? Really?&#8217; Like, from your mouth to God&#8217;s ears, you know? And he was like, &#8216;No, you can just feel it.&#8217; I&#8217;m like, &#8216;Okay. All right.&#8217; So, always trust in Ted Danson.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Danson was ultimately right, as <em>Elf<\/em> grossed over $228 million at the box office and has since cemented itself as a true Christmas classic, some 23 years after it was first released.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Elsewhere in the interview, Ferrell recounted not knowing what the reception to the movie would be like, particularly considering its more family-friendly slant compared to his other roles in buddy comedies like <em>Wedding Crashers<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I remember getting a call from my manager when they were doing some test screenings, and they did back-to-back screenings with two different audiences,&#8221; he said. &#8220;So they wanted to see how it was going to play. So, the one was really more a family [audience], and it played great, and they were really happy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ferrell added: &#8220;And then he called me going, &#8216;I&#8217;m looking at the crowd that&#8217;s lining up for this second screening, and it looks like a bunch of USC frat guys and I&#8217;m just telling you, we might get eviscerated,&#8217; and so when that crowd liked the movie, too, we were like, &#8216;Oh, okay.'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-puzzler-8620185\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Speaking on the July 14 episode of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Good Hang;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1EfmhBlFJyQ\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Good Hang<\/em><\/a> with Amy Poehler, Ferrell recounted having <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:serious doubts while making the film;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/will-ferrell-remembers-massive-doubt-while-making-elf-what-have-you-done-12019076\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">serious doubts while making the film<\/a>, and worrying that people would say, &#8220;That guy was so funny, and then he made this movie, he played a giant elf.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ferrell thought to himself at the time, &#8220;This is either going to be a home run, or it&#8217;s going to be a complete strikeout.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/will-ferrell-recounts-ted-danson-foreseeing-the-success-of-elf-during-set-visit-12027255\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Will Ferrell says Ted Danson predicted Elf&#8216;s success during a set visit while supporting his wife Mary Steenburgen Ferrell recalls initial doubts about the film, fearing audiences might not embrace its family-friendly tone Elf became a holiday classic, grossing over $228 million and resonating with both family and college-aged audiences Will Ferrell [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2520522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[404607,348449,348479,306353],"class_list":["post-2520521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-elf","tag-mary-steenburgen","tag-ted-danson","tag-will-ferrell"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Will-Ferrell-Says-One-Actor-Was-Confident-in-the-Success.com2Fen2Fpeople_2182Fc0fce246fcc5188493ea1f50a2c8a6ab.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2520521"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2520523,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520521\/revisions\/2520523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2520522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2520521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2520521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2520521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}