If the vivacious Elle Woods from the 2001 hit Legally Blonde taught us anything, it’s that appearances can be deceiving. This lesson is worth remembering when tuning into Elle, an eight-episode spinoff debuting on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 1. This series features newcomer Lexi Minetree as a high school version of Woods in 1995.
This fresh take on Elle Woods’ backstory begins with the Woods family moving from sunny Southern California to the grunge-centric city of Seattle. This shift brings new challenges, such as adjusting to the rain and a less pink environment.
Created by Laura Kittrell, known for Insecure and Black Monday, and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, who originally portrayed Elle, the series pays homage to the original film. Fans will be pleased to see Bruiser the dog making an appearance. At the same time, the show introduces a new setting for Elle to light up with her trademark positivity.
Minetree captures the essence of Witherspoon’s iconic character without merely mimicking her. Her portrayal hints at how this optimistic teenager will eventually excel in the courtroom, drawing on her determination and extensive beauty knowledge.
Elle’s new surroundings include her supportive parents, portrayed by Tom Everett Scott and the ever-talented June Diane Raphael. Their heartfelt mother-daughter moments stand out as some of the show’s highlights. The series also features high school friends, frenemies, and even a couple of romantic interests. A central mystery adds intrigue, hinting at Elle’s future legal career.
Interestingly, the producers chose not to fill the series with cameo appearances, including one from Witherspoon herself. This decision sets an example for other studios in today’s content-driven industry. Even without the film’s inspiration, Elle remains a heartfelt coming-of-age story about believing in oneself. Once again, Elle Woods triumphs over skepticism.
What, like it’s hard?
