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Zooey Deschanel Says Elf Role Was First Offered to Katie Holmes

Deschanel credits Holmes’ exit for a Jovie rewritten to showcase her singing.

Overview

  • Speaking on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Deschanel said director Jon Favreau told her the Jovie part had been offered to Katie Holmes before her audition.
  • Deschanel recalled that at age 21 she was asked not to read lines and instead stayed to talk with Favreau about the film.
  • She said Holmes later withdrew due to a scheduling conflict, and the casting team circled back to offer Deschanel the role.
  • Deschanel noted that her singing ability led the writers to tailor Jovie to include musical moments.
  • The 2003 film earned more than $220 million worldwide and endures as a holiday favorite, with Will Ferrell having previously turned down a reported $29 million offer for a sequel.