Reese Witherspoon is officially bringing Elle Woods back—but this time, we’re rewinding the clock to high school. Amazon MGM Studios has greenlit Elle, a brand-new prequel series diving into the early life of the iconic Legally Blonde heroine. Long before Harvard Law and courtroom mic drops, we’ll see a teenage Elle navigating the chaotic, competitive halls of high school—and filming is already underway.
First announced in early 2024 and now in production as of April 2025, Elle is being developed under Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner. Laura Kittrell—best known for High School and Insecure—serves as creator and co-showrunner, alongside Caroline Dries (Batwoman, The Vampire Diaries).
In a personal announcement, Witherspoon revealed that newcomer Lexi Minetree (Law & Order: SVU and The Murdaugh Murders) has been cast in the title role. She also shared a first look at Minetree in costume, teasing the upcoming series with a caption that’s equally nostalgic and cheeky: “Harvard was hard. High school was harder. Our new series, Elle, is now in production!”
According to the official logline, the show “follows Elle Woods in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film.” The prequel promises to explore the defining moments behind Elle’s trademark confidence, glittering ambition, and signature charm—long before legal showdowns and bend-and-snaps.
Joining Minetree in the cast are June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie) as Elle’s impeccably put-together mother, Eva, and Tom Everett Scott as her father. While there’s no word yet on a Witherspoon cameo—possibly in flash-forward scenes—her personal investment in the series is crystal clear. She even cited Netflix’s Wednesday as inspiration for exploring Elle’s teenage origin story.
“I truly couldn’t be more excited about this series,” Witherspoon said in a statement to Deadline. “Fans will get to know how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager with her distinct personality and ingenuity […] in ways that only our beloved Elle could do.” She added that she’s “extremely grateful to the incredible teams at Prime Video and Hello Sunshine—along with our amazing writer Laura Kittrell—for making this dream come true.”
Of course, Elle isn’t the first attempt to expand the Legally Blonde universe. The franchise previously spawned a 2003 sequel (Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde), a 2009 direct-to-video spinoff (Legally Blondes), and a Broadway musical—all aiming to recapture the pink magic. A long-gestating third film, penned by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor, is still reportedly in the works. But Elle marks the first time the franchise is turning back the clock to explore Elle’s formative years.
While there’s no confirmed premiere date just yet, Elle Woods’ high school era is already shaping up to be the next iconic chapter in the beloved blonde’s legacy. And if her teen years are anything like her adult ones, expect brilliance, ambition—and a whole lot of pink.
Words by Khushboo Malhotra
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