Elle, Legally Blonde Prequel, Premieres to Mixed Reviews, Lexi Minetree Praised

Elle, the series prequel to Legally Blonde, premiered on Prime Video on July 1, 2026, 25 years after the original film. The show follows 16-year-old Elle Woods after her family moves from Bel Air to Seattle in 1995, exploring her high school years.

What Critics Say

• Lexi Minetree as young Elle is universally praised for capturing the character's essence without imitation Source: Clarin. However, many critics argue the series relies too heavily on nostalgia and recycles the original film's conflict Source: El Español. Clarin notes that showing Elle facing discrimination in high school undermines the central theme of the movie Source: Clarin.
• The '90s soundtrack and cultural references are a highlight for some, with El Mundo calling it "a festival of nostalgia" Source: El Mundo.

Production and Future

• Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine produced the series; Witherspoon herself was convinced by Minetree's audition video Source: The New York Times via Infobae.
• A second season is already in production, confirming the franchise's expansion Source: El Colombiano.