Everything We Know About the ‘Legally Blonde’ Prequel Series

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For over two decades, Elle Woods’ pink-colored outlook on life has inspired multiple novels, films, and a stage musical to her name. And now, the long-awaited “Legally Blonde 3” is not the only project on the horizon. Brace yourselves for “Elle,” a prequel series from Amazon MGM Studios that will take us back to the character’s life before fashion school and Harvard Law, revealing the experiences that shaped her into the smart, savvy, beloved go-getter we know.

As we prepare to bend-and-snap back in time, here is everything we know about the “Legally Blonde” prequel series so far.

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What is “Legally Blonde” about?

Based on Amanda Brown’s novel of the same name inspired by her experiences while enrolled in law school, 2001’s “Legally Blonde” starred Reese Witherspoon as the pretty-in-pink, chihuahua-toting fashion student and sorority president who has everything—until her boyfriend Warner Huntington III breaks up with her to follow his political career goals at Harvard and find a girlfriend who is more “serious.” Thinking she can win Warner back by becoming the woman he wants, Elle studies for months and gets into Harvard Law School. (What? Like it’s hard?) But when Warner doesn’t want her back, Elle finds herself overcoming stereotypes and becoming a successful lawyer instead.

Opposite Witherspoon starred Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Victor Garber, Jennifer Coolidge, Holland Taylor, Ali Larter, Linda Cardellini, Jessica Cauffiel, and Bruce Thomas. The film, directed by Robert Luketic and written by Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah, was a sleeper hit, grossing over $140 million at the worldwide box office, and it has since become an endlessly quotable cultural fixture.

MGM followed the film with the less-successful sequel “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde” in 2003, which saw Witherspoon as Elle on the road to Washington, D.C., to present her stance on animal rights. Coolidge, Wilson, and Thomas also reprised their roles with new ensemble members Sally Field, Regina King, Bruce McGill, Dana Ivey, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Bob Newhart. Witherspoon also served as producer on a direct-to-video third film in 2009 titled “Legally Blondes.” This project starred Camilla and Rebecca Rosso as Elle’s younger British cousins Annie and Izzy, who live in her California home while she’s away in D.C. working as a successful lobbyist.

Offscreen, a “Legally Blonde” musical written by Heather Hach, Laurence O'Keefe, and Nell Benjamin debuted on Broadway in 2007. Laura Bell Bundy led the original cast as Elle opposite Christian Borle, Orfeh, Michael Rupert, Richard H. Blake, and Kate Shindle. The show received critical acclaim with seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Book of a Musical. After a national tour, the musical made its West End debut in 2009, where the production won three Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Sheridan Smith.

Who is developing the “Legally Blonde” prequel series?

The newly announced project officially comes from creator Laura Kittrell, who will also serve as showrunner and executive producer. Kittrell recently worked as a writer and executive producer on the Amazon Freevee exclusive series “High School” from Clea DuVall and pop duo Tegan and Sara, with previous credits on “Insecure” and “Black Monday.” 

In April 2024, Deadline reported that Amazon MGM Studios had put into development at least two series set in the world of “Legally Blonde.” The most detailed was executive produced via Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner alongside Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who would also write. The pair, best known for developing another hit high school-set series, “Gossip Girl,” have also worked together on “The O.C.,” the recent “Gossip Girl” reboot at Max, “City on Fire” at Apple TV+, and “Nancy Drew” at the CW.

On May 14, during its inaugural upfront presentation to advertisers, Prime Video (with Witherspoon onstage in costume as Elle Woods and accompanied by chihuahua Bruiser) made it official: Amazon MGM Studios will produce a prequel series currently titled “Elle” set during Elle Wood’s high school years. The series will stream exclusively on Prime Video and follows the younger Elle in high school “as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love.” Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter will, as planned, executive produce via Hello Sunshine.

What is the “Legally Blonde” prequel series about?

“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,” Witherspoon said in an official statement. “What could be better than that?!” After the series’ official announcement, she followed up on her Instagram, writing, “Before she became the most famous Gemini vegetarian to graduate from Harvard Law, she was just a regular ‘90s high school girl. And all of you are going to get to know her…”

Since Amazon Studios acquired MGM’s extensive film and TV catalog in March 2022, the company reportedly has been looking to develop new projects based on its newly controlled IPs. “Legally Blonde” was one of the names initially thrown into the ring, as well as “Barbershop, " “Robocop,” “Stargate,” “Pink Panther,” and “Fame.” 

MGM had been trying to get a third “Legally Blonde” movie starring Witherspoon into production since 2018, first putting a film on the release slate for Valentine’s Day 2020, then bringing Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor on board to write a new version in 2020. According to Deadline’s sources, the film was still in development last year during active discussions about “Elle.”

Where can you find similar casting calls for the “Legally Blonde” prequel series?

The prequel series, currently in preproduction, still hasn’t announced its cast, and it’s uncertain if the casting process has even begun. A casting team hasn’t been announced, but veteran casting duo Courtney Bright and Nicole Daniels co-cast “High School” with Rhonda Fisekci, so both names could be on the shortlist. 

While waiting for more casting information, we have a guide to auditioning for Prime Video that can help prepare you for when notices arise.

To help you get noticed, you can always check out our casting roundups, which are updated weekly: 

Be sure to also bookmark our page for Amazon casting calls for more opportunities.

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