Reese Witherspoon has finalized the casting for the younger version of her iconic character, Elle Woods, from the beloved Legally Blonde franchise. On Thursday, Witherspoon announced Lexi Minetree as the new Elle in an exciting Instagram post that read, “Allow me to introduce you to the new Elle Woods!” After an extensive audition process for the upcoming prequel series on Prime Video, Witherspoon expressed her enthusiasm about finding the right fit for the role.
The announcement included a touching video of Witherspoon delivering the good news to Minetree in person. In the clip, Witherspoon greeted her with a warm hug and stated, “We had to make a really hard decision the other day.” She continued, highlighting Minetree’s effort, “We just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to audition anymore because you got the part. You’re Elle Woods.” In a moment of shared excitement, Witherspoon remarked to Minetree’s mother, “When I saw her tape I was like, ‘Are we the same person? This is so weird.'” This sentiment captures the genuine connection Witherspoon feels regarding the character and its new representation.
Lexi Minetree, who has appeared in several short films since 2016, received attention for her role in the 2023 film The Murdaugh Murders and has a guest role set in the upcoming season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2024. The buzz about the prequel started last spring when Amazon Prime Video confirmed to USA TODAY that a Legally Blonde series was under development. Witherspoon and her production company, Hello Sunshine, are collaborating with the creators of Gossip Girl, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, along with Amazon MGM Studios to bring this new adaptation to life.
The anticipation for this new chapter in the Legally Blonde saga is palpable, and fans are eager to see how this prequel will explore the early life of Elle Woods. With the talented Lexi Minetree now cast in the role, the excitement surrounding this production continues to grow.
