TheLegally Blondeprequel seriesEllehas a lot to live up to, but there is one thing that the show must truly get right to match the energy of the original movies. Since the release of 2001’sLegally Blonde, which sawElle Woods (played by Reese Witherspoon) attempt to win her ex-boyfriend back by overcoming stereotypes against blondes and getting a law degree, theLegally Blondefranchise has expanded into a series of sequels, as well as a musical. In 2024,aLegally BlondeTV show calledEllewas confirmed.
Ellewill supposedly follow the titular character of the 2000s comedy film as she navigates high school, which will likely highlight the experiences that shaped her personality. Not much is known about theLegally Blondeprequel show as it is still in development, although there was an open casting call put out by Reese Witherspoon in 2024. There is hope that the series can save theLegally Blondefranchise from the reputations of its less-successful movie sequels, but there is a lot of pressure on theprequel show to nail Elle Woods’ casting.
Legally Blonde’s Prequel Series Must Get The Elle Casting Right
Reese Witherspoon’s Casting Update Is Promising
Following on from one of the most iconic American comedy movies, it will be hard forLegally Blonde’sprequel series to get the casting right.Reese Witherspoon’s performance in 2001’sLegally Blondewas a large selling point for the movie, as her witty line delivery and spirit helped Elle Woods to become such a staple character of the early 2000s era. As executive producer for the series, Reese Witherspoon talked about the exciting casting process in an interview withPEOPLE, citing the strangeness in casting, what is essentially, a younger version of herself. Check out the full statement below:
“I’m really excited. We start in March. I’m really excited because we’re going through the casting process right now and we’re picking who is going to play the young me. It’s kind of a trip. It’s so exciting too, to watch these young girls that are so filled with enthusiasm and excitement and completely… There’s so many good ones. That’s the hard thing because there’s so many good people to choose from.”
Reese Witherspoon’s casting update forLegally Blonde’sprequel showdemonstrates a clear passion for the actress to find the correct person to play Elle Woods. Having been in the lead role herself,Witherspoon has the skillset and knowledge to select an appropriate successorwho truly understands the character and embodies the spirit of a younger Elle. However, with that, there is a lot of pressure for the new Elle Woods considering the character’s legacy, yet Witherspoon has said one of the main problems encountered in the casting process lies in there being “so many good people to choose from.”
Legally Blonde’s New Elle Shouldn’t Be Just A Copy Of Reese Witherspoon’s Performance
Elle Needs To Showcase A Younger Version Of The Character
Another concern for theLegally Blondeprequel show is that while the new Elle Woods needs to embody the spirit of Reese Witherspoon’s original character, she should not be a direct copy of Witherspoon’s performance. Honoring the source material is always a challenge in the media, especially for prequels, becausethe character must have a similar personality that is also age-appropriate. IfEllesimply copied the same personality seen in the movies, it would come across as a parody, as Elle is much younger and needs a different attitude which fits with her age group in high school.
The Legally Blonde Musical Actually Does 1 Huge Thing Better Than The Movie
The Legally Blonde Broadway musical faithfully recaptures the movie’s humor and charm, and actually makes improvements in this important way.
The new Elle needs to embody the younger spirit she needs for a high school setting, and the casting call suggests an unknown actor will be selected. Regardless of who will play Elle Woods in theLegally Blondeprequel series,Elle, the show still faces a challenge in matching Reese Witherspoon’s performance, which is what brought those movies to life and made them work so well.
