The search for the perfect young Elle Woods is in full swing as Prime Video’s highly anticipated Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle, moves forward. Reese Witherspoon, the face behind the beloved character, is now faced with the tough task of selecting the next actor to embody Elle’s signature charm, intelligence, and, of course, her iconic pink ensembles.
During her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Witherspoon—who was promoting her upcoming R-rated comedy You’re Cordially Invited with Will Ferrell—shared insights into the development of Elle and how the idea first took shape.
The actor and producer revealed that her inspiration for the prequel came after binge-watching Netflix’s Wednesday, which follows Jenna Ortega’s take on the gothic teen at Nevermore Academy. “I absolutely loved it. I watched every episode and thought it was incredible,” she said. That sparked a thought: "Why not explore Elle Woods’ high school years?"
“I kept thinking, ‘What was Elle like before college? Before law school?’ And then all these ideas started flooding in,” Witherspoon explained. “A team of incredible writers crafted a fantastic concept, and now Amazon is making the show, which is called Elle.”
The Morning Show star, who is also producing the series through her company Hello Sunshine, is currently deep in the casting process. “Now I have to pick someone to play the younger me,” she said. “There are so many audition tapes, and it’s just so much fun to watch.”
Witherspoon noted how casting has evolved over the years, shifting from traditional in-person auditions to a more digital approach. “Actors now have to shoot, produce, and dress themselves for their audition tapes,” she observed. “But they’re all doing an amazing job, which makes the decision even harder.”
Speaking to People, she also confirmed that production for Elle is set to begin in March, adding that being so closely involved in casting a younger version of herself is “kind of a trip.”
Originally announced last May, Elle is helmed by Laura Kittrell (Insecure) and will chronicle Elle Woods’ high school journey before she takes Harvard Law by storm. The show is one of two Legally Blonde spinoff projects in the works, with the other being developed by Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Meanwhile, Legally Blonde 3, penned by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor, is still in development.
Witherspoon’s excitement is clear, and as the search for the next Elle Woods continues, fans eagerly await more updates on this nostalgic return to the Legally Blonde universe.
