Christmas comes early for those who asked Santa for an “Elf” and “Deadpool” crossover movie.
Apple TV+ gifted the internet with the first look at Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds in the upcoming musical-comedy “Spirited” on Wednesday.
The story is a retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” told from the perspective of the ghosts.
“Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits,” the official synopsis for the film reads. “But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge.”
“Clint Briggs (Reynolds) turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future,” it adds.
Wednesday’s teaser trailer starts with Ferrell and Reynolds’ yellow silhouettes in a tap-dancing battle against a black background.
“Tap is new for me,” Reynolds tells Ferrell. “It’s a very expressive medium.”
Epic musical numbers are evidently in store for “Spirited,” which assumes that the duo will be dancing and singing — although the teaser leaves as much to be desired.
It ends with Ferrell and Reynolds in an elevator trying to remember the name of the first kid Ferrell’s character “saved” — a nod to Dickens’ original characters.
“What did they call him?” Ferrell struggles to recall. “It was Tiny Tim,” Reynolds replies.
“No. Sweet kid. One crutch,” Ferrell provides, also throwing out incorrect yet alliterative nicknames — “Little Larry,” “Micro Mike” and “Super Small Steve.”
It will be Reynolds’ first foray into Christmas movie territory. But for Ferrell, his 2003 comedy classic “Elf” has gone on to become one of American cinema’s most beloved — and highly grossing — holiday tales. That jolly juggernaut, also starring James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner and Bob Newhart, made $220 million worldwide on a $33 million budget.
Octavia Spencer also appears in the “Spirited” trailer, although it is unclear who she portrays in the PG-13-rated movie.
“Spirited” hits theaters on Nov. 11 and streams on Apple TV+ on Nov. 18.