‘Legally Blonde’ Prequel Series ‘Elle’ Ordered By Amazon From Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine

EXCLUSIVE: Legally Blonde has become the first big MGM title to spawn a TV series for Prime Video. The Amazon streamer has ordered Elle, a Legally Blonde prequel series. It hails from the film franchise’s star Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine banner, part of Candle Media. The project is being unveiled at Prime Video’s inaugural upfront presentation today where the streamer also is announcing another TV series based on a MGM property, Tomb Raider.

Created by Laura Kittrell (High School, Insecure), who will serve as showrunner, Elle follows Elle Woods in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

As Deadline reported exclusively last month, there have been two Legally Blonde series in the works at Amazon MGM Studios from Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. The other is a spinoff written and executive produced by the Gossip Girl duo of Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.

“I truly couldn’t be more excited about this series! 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,” Witherspoon said. “What could be better than that?! I’m extremely grateful to the incredible teams at Prime Video and Hello Sunshine – along with our amazing writer Laura Kittrell – for making this dream of mine come true. Legally Blonde is back!”

Kittrell executive produces with Hello Sunshine’s Witherspoon, Lauren Neustadter and Lauren Kisilevsky as well the Legally Blonde movie franchise producer Marc Platt. Elle is produced by Hello Sunshine and Amazon MGM Studios.

“One of the most quotable, iconic, and beloved characters that is ingrained in the fabric of Hollywood history has to be Elle Woods, and we are honored to bring her origin story to our global Prime Video customers,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “Reese and Hello Sunshine’s vision for this series, coupled with Laura Kittrell’s winning voice, made this show completely undeniable.”

As Deadline reported a year ago, Legally Blonde was among a dozen or so titles from the MGM library that were initially identified for film and/or TV development following Amazon’s acquisition of the venerable Hollywood studio. Teaming up with Witherspoon to exploit the IP made sense given how closely she is associated with the franchise .

The first Legally Blonde movie, written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith based on the novel by Amanda Brown, debuted in 2001. It became a pop culture phenomenon and propelled Witherspoon to superstardom. Sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde followed in 2003 as well as 2009 direct-to-video spinoff Legally Blondes, which originated as a pilot for a potential series. Legally Blonde 3, co-written by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor, has been in the works for several years.

At Amazon MGM Studios, Hello Sunshine previously produced the praised Prime Video limited series Daisy Jones & the Six. Witherspoon and the company are repped by CAA and attorney Gretchen Rush. Witherspoon is also with LBI Entertainment. Kittrell is repped by UTA and Mosaic.