Reese Witherspoon<\/a> played a pivotal role in bringing the new Legally Blonde prequel series to the screen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Reese Witherspoon played a pivotal role in bringing the new Legally Blonde prequel series to the screen<\/p>\n
The Oscar-winning actress, 50, has been hailed for helping shape the show Elle as she serves as an executive producer on the Prime Video programme, and it has now emerged she worked extremely closely with the creative team before selecting newcomer Lexi Minetree to portray the teenage version of the character she first made famous more than two decades ago.<\/p>\n
The series, which premiered on Prime Video on 1 July, explores Elle Woods\u2019 high school years before the events of the 2001 film Legally Blonde. <\/p>\n
Reese originated the idea of revisiting the character in a prequel, but executive producers and showrunners Caroline Dries and Laura Kittrell said she deliberately stepped back from the day-to-day writing process while offering personal insight into the character and the era in which the series is set. The revival comes as Legally Blonde continues to enjoy enduring popularity, with Reese\u2019s portrayal of the ambitious law student remaining one of the defining performances of her career alongside films including Walk the Line, Wild and Election, as well as her acclaimed television work on Big Little Lies and The Morning Show.<\/p>\n
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Speaking to PEOPLE, Caroline described Reese\u2019s involvement in developing the series.<\/p>\n
\nShe said: \u201cShe wasn\u2019t in the weeds with us that much with the story. She read the outline for season one and came in and asked questions about it.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAnd then she would just throw out these nuggets of gold about her experience, or she\u2019d be like, \u2018What about this or this?\u2019 And you\u2019re just like, \u2018Yes, please!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCaroline said Reese also wanted the series to authentically capture the experience of growing up during the 1990s.<\/p>\n
\nShe added Reese shared perspectives on \u201cthe high-school experience\u201d during the decade \u201cshe wanted to make sure we were hitting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCaroline added: \u201cShe knew that we would do the Easter eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nLaura said Reese also encouraged the writers to include \u201cspecific \u201990s experiences and feelings\u201d that reflected the world in which Elle grew up.<\/p>\n
\nCaroline added the production team \u201ccherish(ed)\u201d Reese\u2019s ideas before expanding them for the series, while praising the actress for allowing the writers creative freedom.<\/p>\n
\nShe also said Reese \u201ckept a really respectful distance\u201d and \u201cjust let us do what we wanted to do\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nExecutive producer and director Jason Moore also said Reese drew on her own experiences as a parent while discussing the younger version of Elle. <\/p>\n
\nReese is the mother of Ava Phillippe, Deacon Phillippe and Tennessee Toth.<\/p>\n
\nJason said: \u201cReese is a mom, so she brought a lot of her like, \u2018Here\u2019s what my kids were going through and what I remember about being a young girl\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHe added: \u201cThe thing that I found amazing \u2013 that I thought might be more difficult \u2013 is how generous she was with it. I think she realises she is Elle Woods, but Elle Woods has come to represent things for a lot of people.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIn all of our meetings, she wanted to hear new ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nExecutive producer Lauren Neustadter also revealed Reese insisted casting begin with an open audition process rather than targeting established young actors.<\/p>\n
\nLauren said: \u201cShe really felt like the Elle Woods thing to do was give every young woman an opportunity to try out if they wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAccording to Lauren, the production received \u201cthousands and thousands of tapes\u201d after launching the open casting call in September 2024 before announcing Lexi\u2019s casting four months later.<\/p>\n
\nLauren said: \u201cLexi really just popped for us.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHer slate was so funny. She did the Harvard admissions video, but her sort of spin on it, and then her reading was just incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nReese first introduced audiences to Elle Woods in Legally Blonde in 2001 before returning for Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde in 2003. <\/p>\n
\nThe character has since become a cultural touchstone, with the famous Harvard admissions video, the \u201cbend and snap\u201d sequence and Elle\u2019s courtroom triumphs remaining among the most recognisable moments in modern comedy. <\/p>\n
\nThe new prequel explores the experiences that shaped the optimistic and determined teenager long before she arrived at Harvard Law School.<\/p>\n
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