Get ready, Legally Blonde lovers (aka me)! Our beloved Elle Woods is returning to the screen, but this time in a new series. Back in May 2024, Prime Video announced during its upfronts presentation that the Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, was greenlit and in the works. Now, during the company’s 2025 upfronts, they finally shared the first look at Elle, starring Lexi Minetree in the titular role.
In an Instagram post shared on May 12, Reese Witherspoon — the original Elle and the creator of Hello Sunshine, the production company behind the show with Prime Video — released a brand new photo of Minetree as Elle Woods. Her caption read, “I’m so thrilled to introduce Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods. ✨The new star of our TV show ELLE! ✨She is stepping into these pink shoes with so much grace, ambition and charm. Elle is coming to Prime Video Summer 2026! 💖” Minetree herself commented on the photo, saying, “Back to school🤭💖.” This is the first confirmation fans have received on a release date for Elle, so I’m marking my calendar.
In February 2025, Witherspoon announced that Minetree would star in the new series. Witherspoon shared the news with Minetree in an Instagram video. Witherspoon told her, “We had to make a really hard decision the other day, and we wanted to tell you in person because you’ve just worked really hard. We just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to audition anymore because you got the part. You’re Elle Woods.” Minetree said, “Really? Oh my god! Wait, I want to call my mom.”
Minetree will be joined by a stacked cast of characters, including Chandler Kinney (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), who will play Elle’s nemesis Kimberly, and Jacob Moskovitz (Y2K), who will play star athlete Miles.
We all know Elle Woods for her charismatic charm and go-getter attitude, but what’s her origin story? How did she become so confident, and when did Bruiser, her adorable dog, become attached to her at the hip? According to Variety, the upcoming series will follow ”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.” Think The Carrie Diaries, but with more pink.
As we wait for more teasers from Elle to be released, I’ll be rewatching Legally Blonde and brushing up on my legal jargon. Objection!