Reese Witherspoon is turning Legally Blonde into a cinematic universe. On May 14, the actor, who played Elle Woods in two movies, announced at Amazon's advance press conference that a prequel series set in Woods' high school years has officially been put into production.
A According to Variety , the show, currently titled Elle , will follow "Elle Woods' high school experiences that made her the iconic character we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde movie." young women.”
Witherspoon, who dressed up as famous characters at the Amazon event, said she was "so excited" for the prequel series. "Fans will learn how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager with a unique personality and smarts in a way that only our beloved Elle could."
Series creator Laura Kittrell will serve as executive producer on the series alongside the Oscar-winning actor, along with Lauren Neustadt of Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine Neustadter will also produce with Amazon MGM Studios.
"Elle Woods is one of the most quotable, iconic and beloved characters in Hollywood history," said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios. "Reese and Hello Sunshine's vision for this series, coupled with Laura Kittrell's captivating voice, makes this show completely undeniable."
The news comes a month after Deadline first reported that Witherspoon was developing a spinoff. According to the outlet, Gossip Girl and The OC creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are writing the series.
Deadline also reports that Witherspoon and Amazon are exploring the idea of a second spinoff, which is still in its early stages.
Legally Blonde 3
It's unclear how -- if at all -- the show will affect the long-delayed Legally Blonde 3 . Witherspoon announced a third Legally Blonde movie in June 2018, two years after she revealed that Mindy Kaling would co-write the film with writing partner Dan Goor. However, MGM's previously announced May 2022 premiere date has already passed.
In April 2022, Kaling admitted that writing the sequel was "a little slower than we would have liked, but just because we really wanted it to be better," telling Entertainment Tonight, "I think it's going to be just like Reese's The Avengers . Elle Woods is like her Captain America, so you don’t want to be the one who ruins the story.”
Months later, Witherspoon gave an encouraging update, saying Top Gun: Maverick Gave her the motivation to get the sequel right. "I feel like these characters are my friends, so I protect them," she told USA Today . “I would never make a shitty, mediocre version of their story.”
