Prime Video has just announced the official release date for Season 1 of the Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle. The series, set years before Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods became Harvard’s fashionable law student, will arrive on Prime Video on July 1. Not only that, but months before the official premiere, the streamer has renewed the comedy series for a second season.
Elle stars Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods, the clever and fashionable girl who enters law school and surprises everyone by smashing stereotypes. However, the prequel takes place years before the events in Legally Blonde, with Minetree playing Woods during her high school years in the ’90s. Joining Minetree are June Diane Raphael as Eva, and Tom Everett Scott as Wyatt, Elle’s parents. The series also stars Gabrielle Policano, Chandler Kinney, Jacob Moskovitz, Jessica Belkin, David Burtka, Brad Harder, Kayla Maisonet, Lisa Yamada, and James Van Der Beek.
In a surprising move by Prime Video, the series has already been renewed for a second season. This shows the streamer’s confidence that the prequel will do great with fans of the original, as well as modern audiences. Amazon MGM Studios boss Peter Friedlander said the following about the announcement:
“Elle captures the heart, confidence, and optimism that made Elle Woods an enduring cultural icon, while giving audiences a fresh and deeply personal coming-of-age story.
“Ordering a second season speaks to our belief in the creative vision and the incredible team behind the series, and we’re excited for audiences to experience Elle’s journey starting with Season 1.”
The original Legally Blonde arrived in theaters in 2001, and shortly after, it became a cultural phenomenon. The film grossed $142 million from a modest budget of $18 million, and also had a good reception by critics. It was actually nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Witherspoon). It was also the first entry in a franchise that has spawned sequels and a stage play, among others.
Original ‘Legally Blonde’ Star Reese Witherspoon Joined the Celebration for ‘Elle’s Premiere and Season 2 Renewal
Elle was created by TV producer Laura Kittrell, who acts as showrunner on the series with Caroline Dries. Kittrell and Dries will serve as executive producers, alongside Lauren Neustadter, original producer Marc Platt, Legally Blonde author Amanda Brown, and Jason Moore (who also directed a couple of episodes). Original franchise star Reese Witherspoon is also backing the show as executive producer, and had this to say about the release date announcement as well as the production of Season 2:
“Twenty-five years after the world met Elle Woods for the first time, it’s a dream come true to share the story of how she became the unstoppable force we all fell in love with. Discovering Lexi Minetree and watching her step into Elle’s fabulous shoes has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career. I think our series’ themes of kindness, authenticity, and believing in yourself will resonate deeply with fans of the original films and new audiences alike.
“Working with our incredible Hello Sunshine team, Amazon and our visionary writers and directors to bring Elle’s high school journey to life has been a tremendous joy. I can’t wait to share Season 1 with the world and start rolling cameras on Season 2!”
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