Reese Witherspoon passes the ‘Legally Blonde’ crown to new Elle Woods

Reese Witherspoon is embracing the next generation of Elle Woods, symbolically passing the “pink torch” to actress Lexi Minetree as anticipation builds for Prime Video’s upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle.

Minetree recently honored the beloved franchise by stepping out in the same pink Marc Jacobs dress that Witherspoon wore to the premiere of Legally Blonde in 2001. 

The nostalgic fashion moment took place during Minetree’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she discussed taking on one of Hollywood’s most recognizable characters.

According to Deadline, the actress stars as a teenage Elle Woods in the prequel series, which explores the character’s high school years before she became the ambitious Harvard Law student audiences first met in the 2001 film. 

Moreover, the show is set in the mid-1990s and premieres on Prime Video on July 1. 

Witherspoon, who originated the role, serves as an executive producer.

Minetree revealed that she went to extraordinary lengths to prepare for the role, watching Legally Blonde approximately 150 times after being cast. 

As per Daily Mail, she also recreated Elle’s famous Harvard admissions video as part of her audition, a creative effort that ultimately helped her secure the coveted role.

Witherspoon has publicly championed Minetree since announcing her casting in early 2025, praising the young actress’ performance and enthusiasm for the character. 

Furthermore, the actress has described the transition as a celebration of Elle Woods’ enduring legacy and a chance for a new generation of viewers to connect with the iconic character.