The film recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and is undoubtedly one of the classic Christmas films watched by families around the world every year.
But Elf fans are all baffled as they're only just now realizing that an “iconic poinsettia” is making an appearance in the Will Farrell film.
The 2003 film, directed by Jon Favreau, stars Will as Buddy Hobbs – also known as Buddy the Elf – an eccentric human raised by Santa's elves who eventually sets out to find his biological father Walter Hobbs (James Caan) visits New York City.
But back at the North Pole, fans noticed that head elf Ming Ming had previously starred in another festive film.
Peter Billingsley, who played Ming Ming, also took on the lead role of Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story.
Elf recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and is without a doubt one of the classic Christmas films watched by families around the world every year
On X, formerly known as Twitter, one person wrote: “I was years old today when I realized Peter Billingsley (aka Ralphie from A Christmas Story) was in Elf!”
Another wrote: “Ralphie from A Christmas Story is the main elf in Elf. 'How could I not know?'
A third said: “Nice to know a memorable actor from one Christmas classic appeared in another.”
Last year it was announced that Billingsley would return to his signature role to direct a sequel to the long-running hit.
The filmmaker-turned-star will reprise his role in the new film, which is expected to take place when Ralphie comes of age in the 1970s, The Hollywood Reporter revealed at the time.
In addition to starring in the long-awaited sequel to the 1983 classic, Billingsley also serves as a producer for his production companies Legendary and Warner Bros., along with his longtime friend Vince Vaughn for Wild West Picture Show Productions.
“The Christmas Chronicles” director Clay Kaytis helmed the highly anticipated sequel, which will be released on Warner's streaming service HBO Max.
The original “A Christmas Story” was an episodic play set in the late 1930s to early 1940s in which nine-year-old Ralphie navigates his school and family relationships in a fictional Indiana town and dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB for Christmas -gun to get.
Peter Billingsley, who played Ming Ming, also took on the lead role of Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story
Elf fans are all baffled as they're just now realizing that an “iconic poinsettia” is making an appearance in the Will Farrell film
In the '70s-set sequel, Ralphie will return to his old house on Cleveland Street to give his own children the same “magical Christmas” he experienced as a child.
The original film was praised for its realistic production design that perfectly suited the time and Midwest setting, and the publication writes that the new film will attempt to adopt a similar style.
The adult Ralphie reunites with some of his childhood friends from the original film while trying to move on from the death of his father, often referred to as “The Old Man” in the original and played by Darren McGavin.
Although the original was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio and some additional scenes were filmed in Ontario, Canada, the new production was not filmed in the United States. Instead, Hungary will fill in for Hammond, Indiana.
There are expected to be plenty of references to the original film, which runs for 24 hours from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day each year on TBS and TNT.
A Christmas Story, which also starred Melinda Dillon as Ralphie's mother, was initially only moderately successful and received mixed reviews upon its release in 1983.
But over the years, the film grew in popularity with home video releases and television broadcasts, eventually becoming considered one of the best and most popular Christmas films of all time.
Last year it was announced that Billingsley would be returning to his signature role, nearly 40 years after the original 1983 film A Christas Story.
After his acclaimed performance in A Christmas Carol, Billingsley acted more sporadically as he grew older before focusing on work behind the camera as a director and producer.
He then directed the comedy “Couple Retreat” with friends Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau and executive produced the animated comedy “F For Family” with Vaughn.
In 2008, he played a small role as a scientist in Iron Man, which was directed by Favreau, and both actors later appeared in Spider-Man: Far From Home.
A Christmas Story Christmas begins streaming on HBO Max on November 17th.