Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross Share Holiday Memories

Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross

Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross are spreading not only joy, but laughs this holiday season.

Candy Cane Lane marks the pair's first foray into holiday movies. "We are both new to the Christmas genre," Ross told Parade in an interview with her co-star.

Murphy cited the script as being the reason he decided to make his first-ever Christmas film. "The script was great. It was unique," the Golden Globe-winning actor said. "And it was like 'Hey, this is something I hadn't done.' Like you said, I hadn't done any Christmas movies, so it all worked out. Everything came together."

The film, directed by Reginald Hudlin, sees "The Twelve Days of Christmas" come to life after Chris Carver (Murphy) unintentionally makes a deal with a rogue, mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) in order to win his neighborhood’s Christmas decoration contest.

Related: How to Watch Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross' First Christmas Movie!

"I think there's an element of redemption that happens in Candy Cane Lane," Ross said of what makes the movie special. "And also, I don't know how many Christmas movies have a rogue elf. I think it's [a] very important factor to a timeless classic Christmas movie. A rogue elf and a Black Santa."

The movie was inspired by screenwriter Kelly Younger's childhood experiences on Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, California. Recalling her own holiday experiences growing up, Ross joked, "I had a lot of trouble with a rogue elf growing up."

"Not me. I grew up, I was on Linden Street in Brooklyn. Around the corner from Gates Avenue. There were no rogue elves, but there were rogues," Eddie laughed.

Related: Eddie Murphy's Net Worth—and the Shocking Sum He Made from Shrek

Ross—daughter of Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein—did, however, connect to the film's "family element."

"Doing it as a family, three kids. Dad that's kind of nutty," the Black-ish alum said with a laugh. "I feel like it kind of reminded me of the world I come from...with no rogue elves."

Meanwhile, Murphy remembered that "it got Christmassy" when he moved out to Long Island. He shared, "We moved from Brooklyn to Long Island. We had a house with a yard. That's when it started being Christmassy. I might have been around 11."

Like Murphy's character in the holiday comedy, the Hollywood stars also have Christmas wishes for this year. "I just wish for world peace," Murphy said.

Ross agreed saying, "I think this is a year for us to wish for things that don't have to do with a gift. But world peace and people treating each other with kindness."

Catch Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross in Candy Cane Lane, debuting Dec. 1 on Prime Video 

Next, 100+ Other Holiday Movies to Watch Next