Prime Video’s new Legally Blonde prequel series Elle has received positive response from audiences following its debut. According to ScreenRant, the series executive-produced by Reese Witherspoon (The Last Thing He Told Me, The Morning Show, Big Little Lies) currently holds a 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics have given the show a 55% score.
Serving as a prequel to the Legally Blonde films, Elle stars Lexi Minetree (The Murdaugh Murders, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, All Alone Together) as a younger Elle Woods. The series also stars June Diane Raphael (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Long Shot, Unfinished Business), Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do!, Because I Said So, The Summer I Turned Pretty), Chandler Kinney (Lethal Weapon, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, Zombies 2), Gabrielle Policano (Babygirl, Neon Rage, Birr), and Jacob Moskovitz (Y2K, Brian, The Floaters).
Set six years before the events of the original film, the series follows Elle during her high school years in Seattle as she navigates friendships, family life, and the experiences that eventually shape her into the confident young woman audiences meet in Legally Blonde.
Although Witherspoon does not reprise her iconic role, she serves as an executive producer on the series. The actress previously revealed that Elle was partially inspired by Netflix’s Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega (Scream, The Fallout, Death of a Unicorn), with the creative team aiming to explore a familiar character in a high school setting before the events of the original story.
According to ScreenRant, audience reactions have been largely positive, with many viewers praising the show’s nostalgic 1990s setting and familiar coming-of-age story. Many have described the new series as an entertaining addition to the Legally Blonde franchise. Others have criticized the series for following familiar storytelling conventions. The publication also noted that the audience score could continue to change as more viewers watch and review the series.
Created by Laura Kittrell (Insecure, High School, Black Monday), Elle is written and showrun by Kittrell alongside Caroline Dries (The Vampire Diaries, Batwoman, Gotham Knights). The series has already been renewed for a second season, which has reportedly completed filming.
A release date for Elle season two has not yet been announced.