Actress Lexi Minetree will portray a young Elle Woods in the upcoming Prime Video prequel series titled "Elle" [1, 2].
The production expands the Legally Blonde franchise by exploring the high-school years of the iconic character [3]. By detailing the origins of Elle Woods, the series provides a fresh perspective on the character's development before the events of the original film [3].
Reese Witherspoon, who played the title role in the original movies and serves as a producer on the project, handpicked Minetree for the role [1, 2]. Minetree is 25 years old [1].
Production for the series is taking place in Vancouver, Canada [4]. The project aims to capture the essence of the character's formative years while maintaining the spirit of the established franchise [3].
A first teaser for the series was released on May 6, 2024 [5]. Reflecting on the experience of being cast in the role, Minetree said, "I sounded like a crazy person" [6].
The series will focus on the 1990s setting to align with the character's timeline [3]. This approach allows the creators to build upon the established lore of the character, and introduce a new generation of viewers to the world of Elle Woods [3].
“Lexi Minetree will portray a young Elle Woods in the upcoming Prime Video prequel series titled "Elle".”
The expansion of the Legally Blonde brand into a streaming series indicates a strategy to leverage nostalgia through prequel storytelling. By involving Reese Witherspoon in the casting process, the production ensures continuity between the original film's persona and the new iteration, mitigating the risk of character inconsistency in a franchise defined by a very specific personality.
