U2 guitarist The Edge wrote an Elf sequel that never materialized, says Andy Richter

U2 guitarist The Edge finished a complete screenplay for an Elf sequel, but the project never moved beyond the draft. Andy Richter revealed the story on a recent episode of the show “Obsessed: The Podcast.” He said producer Shauna Robertson, who oversaw the 2003 film, was contacted with news that David Howell Evans – The Edge’s real name – had written a follow‑up script and wanted to discuss it. Robertson apparently agreed to meet, yet the talks collapsed and the script remained unseen. Richter also mentioned that comedy writer Scot Armstrong, known for “Old School” and “The Hangover Part II,” drafted a different sequel idea involving hostile South‑Pole elves kidnapping Santa. Armstrong had contributed material to the original Elf but did not receive credit due to guild rules. Both writers’ attempts failed to gain traction, and Richter argued that the beloved holiday movie should stay as it is. He noted that the film, now 23 years old, is considered a modern classic and that sequels often dilute a beloved original. Elf, directed by Jon Favreau, premiered in 2003 with Will Ferrell as Buddy, James Caan as Walter Hobbs, Zooey Deschanel and Mary Steenburgen among the cast. Richter appeared briefly as one of Hobbs’ coworkers and later co‑authored the behind‑the‑scenes book “Elf Unwrapped: Behind the Scenes of a Modern Christmas Classic,” released this Tuesday. ## Context The Edge’s script exists only as an unpublished draft, reflecting how even high‑profile fans may not see their ideas become movies. The reluctance to create a sequel highlights the industry’s caution with treasured properties.