Four months after Reese Witherspoon launched a global casting call for the role of young Elle Woods, she has officially found her leading lady and drumroll…it’s Lexi Minetree! Reese personally delivered the exciting news to Lexi in an Instagram video.
"Your audition tape was amazing, and we had such a tough decision to make," Reese told the young actress. "But we wanted to tell you in person that you don’t have to audition anymore… because you got the part! You’re Elle Woods!"
To celebrate, the duo called Lexi’s mom, with Reese gushing over the starlet’s uncanny resemblance to her own iconic performance. "When I saw her tape, I was like, 'Are we the same person?'" she joked.
Set in the 1990s, the Legally Blonde prequel will follow Elle as a teenager, long before her Harvard Law days. While she may not be fluent in legal jargon just yet, the series will showcase her signature charm, confidence, and determination as she navigates high school, first love, and heartbreak.
"Fans will get to know how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager with her distinct personality and ingenuity in ways that only our beloved Elle could do," Reese teased in a May 2024 press release.
Although Reese won’t be reprising her role as Elle, she remains a key player as an executive producer. Handing over the pink baton was both exciting and surreal for the actress, who played Elle in Legally Blonde (2001) and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003).
"It’s kind of a trip," she told People in January. "There were so many talented young women who auditioned, which made the decision really tough. But Lexi was just amazing."
For Reese, maintaining the integrity of the Legally Blonde universe has always been a top priority.
"I feel like these characters are my friends, so I safeguard them," she told USA Today in 2022. "I would never make a subpar, mediocre version of their story."
With Lexi Minetree stepping into Elle’s iconic pink heels, fans can expect a fresh yet faithful take on the beloved character’s early years. And if Reese’s reaction is anything to go by, the future looks so Elle Woods-approved!
Source: E! News