Don’t Be a Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins: Check Out These Elf Secrets

1. The first script for Elf was actually written in 1993, with Jim Carrey in mind to play the titular Santa's helper. Because it took a decade for the film to finally be made, the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective star never ended up taking on the role, which proved to be the ultimate Christmas gift for Will Ferrell.

2. Elf was also initially intended to be a bit more sinister, with director Jon Favreau revealing to Rolling Stone, "He was a darker character."

3. Before he was asked to come in to rewrite the script and transform the movie into a PG friendly-family affair, Favreau initially turned down the job.

"I took a look at the script, and I wasn't particularly interested," he told Rolling Stone. "It was a much darker version of the film. I liked the notion of being involved with Will in his first solo movie after SNL, but it wasn't quite there."