Will Ferrell says he’ll never play one character again after the effect it had on his co-star

The 57-year-old revealed that he's hung up the green outfit for good.

The much-loved actor has played some of the greatest comedic roles in the history of film - including Ron Burgundy in Anchorman, Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights and Brennan Huff in Step Brothers.

There are few performers in the world that can make people laugh with just a change in facial expression like Will Ferrell can.

For those of a younger generation, his performance as Buddy the Elf in the iconic Elf film will always hold a special place in their hearts.

Despite the love and adoration people have for that character, Ferrell has revealed that he will never play the role again because of how much his co-star James Caan hated it.

If you remember correctly, Buddy was an eccentric, loud, Christmas lover, while his on-screen Dad - played by Caan - wasn't, as Ferrell explained on the Messy podcast.

"James Caan, may he rest in peace, we had such a good time working on that movie," Ferrell told hosts Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. "He would tease me. 

"I like to do bits but I’m not like ‘on’ all the time. In between set ups, Caan would be like, ‘I don’t get you. You’re not funny.’

"And I’m like, ‘I know. I’m not Robin Williams.’ And he was like, ‘People ask me: ‘Is he funny?’ And I’m like, ‘No, he’s not funny.‘ It was all with love but at the same time…"

Ferrell revealed that after the pair attended a screening of the Christmas classic, Caan changed his mind about his co-star's humour.

"He was like, ‘I’ve got to tell you: I thought everything you were doing while we were filming was way too over the top. Now that I see it in the movie, it’s brilliant,’" Ferrell recalled.

"But I love that the whole time, he’s not acting. He’s truly annoyed with me. He’s like, ‘Can this guy shut the f*** up? Jesus.’

"I literally drove him crazy in that movie, just acting like that kid. But that was the funniest thing, him walking out of the theatre and shaking his head and going ‘it’s brilliant’."

Ferrell also revealed that in recent years he was offered $29 million to return as Buddy, but was unhappy with the script.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: "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.'"