If the buoyant intellect of Elle Woods in the 2001 blockbuster Legally Blonde taught us anything, it’s that appearances can be deceiving, particularly when wrapped in glittery pink. Fans should keep this in mind as they prepare for Elle, an eight-episode spinoff debuting Wednesday, July 1 on Prime Video. This candy-hued series explores the high school adventures of Woods, portrayed by promising newcomer Lexi Minetree, set in 1995.
This reimagining of Elle’s beginnings follows the delightful tension that arises when the Woods family uproots their lives from the sun-drenched streets of Southern California to the grungier vibe of Seattle. Here, Elle encounters a world of Nirvana music, persistent rain, and an absence of her signature pink.
The series, a creation of Laura Kittrell of Insecure and Black Monday fame, and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, the original Elle, strikes a balance between nostalgia and novelty. It gives a nod to the films — yes, even beloved Bruiser the dog makes an appearance — while crafting a fresh narrative for Elle to illuminate with her boundless optimism.
Reese Witherspoon shared some unexpected advice with Lexi Minetree for her portrayal of Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde prequel series. “She advised me, ‘Always choose kindness and never stoop low, even if others do,’” Minetree, 25, revealed to Us Weekly exclusively during the series premiere event in New York City on Tuesday, June […].
Minetree successfully captures the spirit of Witherspoon’s beloved character, not through imitation, but by embodying the essence of Elle Woods. Her depiction of this optimistic adolescent hints at a future where her determination and unique knowledge in beauty care lead her to shine in the legal arena.
Elle’s new world includes her supportive parents, played by Tom Everett Scott and a characteristically wonderful June Diane Raphael (the confessional scenes between mother and daughter are some of the show’s strongest). There are high school friends and frenemies and duh, even a love interest or two. To keep things moving, the season also introduces a central mystery for Elle and her friends to solve — a fitting nod to our protagonist’s future legal career.
It’s surprising that producers resisted the urge to turn this thing into a cameofest — not even Witherspoon appears — but their restraint is a model for all studios in our IP-driven era. Take away the film inspiration, and Elle would still be a warm coming-of-age TV show about the importance of having faith in yourself. Elle Woods is famous for proving doubters wrong, and here, she does it again.
Lexi Minetree is grateful she has Reese Witherspoon in her corner while filming the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series Elle. “She’s just the best. She’s so warm and so caring,” Minetree, 23, who plays the younger version of Witherspoon’s character, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Amazon Upfronts on Monday, May 12. “She’s always checking […]
What, like it’s hard?