TL;DR
Andy Richter has said U2 guitarist The Edge wrote a sequel to the 2003 holiday film Elf, but the project was never made. Richter has not disclosed the plot, and no clear reason for the project’s failure has been established.
Andy Richter says U2 guitarist The Edge wrote a sequel to Elf, but the film was never made. Richter shared the anecdote on The Daily Beast’s Obsessed podcast and again in an appearance on Page Six Radio; neither account, as described in Stereogum’s report, explains the proposed story or why the project stalled.
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Richter, who had a small role in the 2003 comedy and co-wrote the book Elf Unwrapped: Behind the Scenes of a Modern Christmas Classic, told Obsessed host Matt Wilstein that Canadian film producer Shauna Robertson had been approached about a sequel written by The Edge. The project was reportedly complete as a script, though the report does not provide a copy or further details about its development.
Richter repeated the story while speaking to Page Six Radio. According to Stereogum, he said the musician wanted to discuss the project with Robertson. Richter did not describe the plot, identify other writers or filmmakers involved, or say when the script was written. The accounts establish that he told the story, but do not independently confirm the script’s contents or production history.
The sequel did not reach production. Stereogum reported no clear explanation for why it fell through, beyond the account that things did not work out. The anecdote appeared around the 31-minute mark of the podcast video; Stereogum also pointed to a Page Six Radio clip.
A Surprising Route for Elf Two
The account adds an unexpected possibility to the history of a film that remains closely associated with the holiday season: a sequel script may have existed, written by a major musician rather than an established comedy screenwriter. For fans, the most immediate interest is what The Edge imagined for Buddy and whether the script would have continued the original film’s story.
At present, the account is a piece of behind-the-scenes reporting, not news that a sequel is being revived. There is no reported production, release plan or public script. That distinction matters: Richter’s recollection makes the project an intriguing piece of film lore, but it does not indicate that audiences will see the story on screen.
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From 2003 Holiday Hit to Unmade Script
Elf stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves who travels to meet his birth father, played by James Caan, after learning he is on Santa’s naughty list. The film was released in 2003 and has since become a recurring holiday viewing choice. The source report uses that enduring reputation to frame why a sequel might draw attention, while also noting that the original story does not necessarily require continuation.
Richter’s connection to the film is relevant to the anecdote: he appeared in a small role and later co-wrote Elf Unwrapped, a behind-the-scenes book released the week before the Stereogum report. His remarks were made in two media appearances, but the supplied reporting does not identify any announcement from The Edge, Robertson, the film’s studio or other rights holders confirming further details.
“Richter said Canadian film producer Shauna Robertson had been approached about a sequel written by The Edge.”
— Andy Richter, on The Daily Beast’s Obsessed podcast, as reported by Stereogum
The Script’s Plot and Fate
The proposed sequel’s story, timing and intended creative team are not known from the supplied report. It is also unclear whether the script was formally commissioned, how far it advanced, or which parties had authority to approve a film. Richter reportedly characterized it as fully written, but the source material does not offer the document or confirmation from The Edge or Robertson.
The reason it was not made remains unresolved. Stereogum’s account says only that things did not work out; it does not establish whether creative disagreements, scheduling, financing, rights or another factor played a role. No evidence in the report points to an active sequel project.
Any Confirmation Would Add Detail
The next useful developments would be comment from The Edge, Robertson or representatives connected to the original film, or publication of more details about the script. The podcast and radio appearances offer places to check Richter’s comments directly, but the supplied report gives no indication that a follow-up interview, script release or production announcement is scheduled.
Until additional information emerges, the account remains a report of an unmade screenplay rather than a new film announcement. There is no confirmed next step for the project, and its status should not be mistaken for a sequel in development.
Key Questions
Did The Edge write an Elf sequel?
Andy Richter said he did, recounting that a sequel written by the U2 guitarist had been brought to producer Shauna Robertson. The supplied report does not include independent confirmation from The Edge or Robertson.
Was the Elf sequel made?
No. Richter’s account, as reported by Stereogum, describes a project that did not come to fruition.
What was the sequel about?
The plot has not been disclosed in the source material. Richter did not explain how the story would have continued the original film.
Why was the sequel never made?
No clear reason has been reported. Stereogum said only that things did not work out; it did not identify a specific creative, financial or scheduling issue.
Is an Elf sequel in development now?
The report does not say that one is in development. It describes a past, unmade script, with no confirmed production or release plans.
Source: stereogum.com
