New Elle Woods Actor Revealed in Reese Witherspoon’s Legally Blonde Prequel

LOS ANGELES, CA — Reese Witherspoon announced that actress Lexi Minetree will play a young Elle Woods in the upcoming prequel series, “Elle.” Minetree’s casting marks a new chapter in the beloved “Legally Blonde” franchise, which follows the iconic character’s formative teenage years.

The news came as Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, officially confirmed that the series is currently in production. On Instagram, Witherspoon expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you all to @leximinetree as Elle Woods!” The announcement followed months of speculation surrounding the casting of the lead role.

“Elle” promises to explore how a younger Elle Woods navigated the challenges of high school with her signature personality and intelligence. Witherspoon described the series as an opportunity to showcase the trials and tribulations that helped shape the resilient character fans adore.

In a recent press release, Witherspoon elaborated on the plot, saying, “Fans will get to know how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager, in ways that only our beloved Elle could do. What could be better than that?!” Although the series is in early production stages, it is set to be released on Prime Video exclusively.

Minetree, a recent college graduate, was previously employed in PR and social media. While this role highlights her breakout potential, she has been honing her craft through earlier appearances in works such as “The Murdaugh Murders” (2023) and “My Amish Double Life” (2025).

Minetree expressed her gratitude for landing the role on social media, saying, “Thank you to @amazonmgmstudios, @hellosunshine, and everyone involved with this project for trusting me with this iconic role. I promise she’s in good hands!”

The series will also feature an ensemble cast, including June Diane Raphael as Elle’s mother and Tom Everett Scott as her father. Chandler Kinney joins the lineup as Kimberly, an upperclassman with a complicated relationship with Elle, alongside Jacob Moskovitz and Gabrielle Policano as classmates. The excitement for “Elle” continues to grow as fans eagerly await further details on the series, which seeks to blend nostalgia with new stories that resonate with today’s audience.