'Elf' to Return as Stop-Motion Special This Christmas.

If you don't like the 2003 festive favourite Elf, your surname might just be Scrooge- or you could even be The Grinch. The Jon Favreau directed comedy has become something of a modern Christmas classic- and with good reason, if you ask us. Although a movie sequel has never happened, Elf is making a surprise return to screens this Christmas- this time in animated form.

Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas will be a retelling of the original story in stop-motion form, incorporating elements both of the film and the recent Broadway musical it inspired. To many Americans, the art of stop-motion will always be intrinsically linked with the classic Rankin/ Bass Christmas specials, such as Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer. Favreau's original movie paid tribute to these much-loved programmes by including stop-motion sequences- so it's not actually Elf's first brush with animation.

The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons will take Will Ferrell's place as Buddy, and the cast also includes original Santa Ed Asner, as well as Mark Hamill and Kate Micucci. It'll air in the US on NBC on December 16th at 8pm. A UK broadcast has yet to be confirmed.
[source]