Elf was released back in 2003

Since its debut in 2003, Elf has gone on to become a Christmas staple that fans enjoy year after year.

But no amount of repeat viewing will tell you the story behind the beloved Will Ferrell movie.

In that spirit, we’ve uncovered 19 behind-the-scenes facts you probably didn’t know about the much-loved seasonal comedy...

1. Another Christmassy actor was originally lined-up to play Will Ferrell’s role in Elf

The first script for Elf was written way back in 1993 with Jim Carrey in mind to play Buddy.

However, as the project took years to get off the ground, The Mask star never ended up taking on the role.

Jim did end up starring in another festive classic, though, appearing as the titular character in the 2000 adaptation of The Grinch.

Jim Carrey was originally in line to play Buddy

2. Elf was also darker in tone when it was first written

Filmmaker Jon Favreau originally turned down the chance to work on Elf as he was not a fan of the script, which was darker than the film that eventually got made.

When he was asked to take another look at it, he agreed to rewrite it and turned it into “more of a PG movie from a PG-13”.

Favreau said in a 2013 Rolling Stone interview: “[Buddy] was a darker character in the script I had read originally.

“The character became a bit more innocent, and the world became more of a pastiche of the Rankin/Bass films.”

3. In fact, the 1964 film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was a major inspiration for Elf

Favreau cited the Rankin/Bass film as a source of inspiration, saying he wanted to make “the world that [Buddy] was from as though he grew up as an elf in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.

As such, the elves’ costumes were similar to those worn by Hermey, while the workshops in Elf were also based on those in the animated film.

4. But while there was a reference point, it still took a long time to get the costume right

Costume designer Laura Jean Shannon told Feel Christmassy: “It was less a challenge dressing Will due to his size and more a challenge to make sure nothing seemed off-putting or in bad taste.

“After all, I had to dress a grown man in tights and a cutaway coat. Needless to say, we did have a fair amount of fittings to be sure we struck the right balance between absurd and adorable.”

5. The similarities between Elf and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer don’t end there, though

Leon The Snowman, who is seen talking to Buddy after he learns that he is human, was based on Sam The Snowman from Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Sam The Snowman (left) and Leon The Snowman

6. There’s actually hardly any GCI in Elf

While you might think that there was a lot of computer trickery to make Will........

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