Prime Video has announced that ‘Elle’, the much-anticipated prequel series to the popular ‘Legally Blonde’ franchise, will premiere on July 1, streaming exclusively on the platform across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Even before its debut, the coming-of-age series has secured an early renewal for a second season, signalling strong confidence in the project.

According to a Prime Video press release, ‘Elle’ is produced by Hello Sunshine in association with Amazon MGM Studios and revisits the formative years of Elle Woods. The first season is set in high school and explores the experiences that shaped her personality, ambition and values, long before she became the confident law student audiences first met in the original ‘Legally Blonde’ film.

Reese Witherspoon, who famously portrayed Elle Woods on the big screen and now serves as an executive producer, described the series as a deeply personal project. She said that sharing the origin story of the character 25 years after her introduction is a dream come true. Witherspoon also praised lead actor Lexi Minetree, calling her discovery and transformation into Elle Woods one of the most rewarding experiences of her career, and noted that the show’s themes of kindness, authenticity and self-belief will resonate with both longtime fans and new viewers.

Peter Friedlander, Global Head of Television at Amazon MGM Studios, said the series captures the optimism, confidence and heart that made Elle Woods a cultural icon, while offering a fresh and intimate coming-of-age narrative. He added that the decision to greenlight a second season ahead of the premiere reflects the studio’s belief in the creative vision and the team behind the show.

Created by Laura Kittrell, ‘Elle’ is co-showrun by Kittrell and Caroline Dries, both of whom also serve as executive producers. The series is executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, Lauren Neustadter, Marc Platt and Amanda Brown. Jason Moore, known for ‘Pitch Perfect’, has directed the first two episodes of Season One and is also on board as an executive producer.

Lexi Minetree stars as Elle Woods, with June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott playing her parents, Eva and Wyatt. The cast also includes Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney and Zac Looker, along with a roster of recurring actors such as James Van Der Beek, Jessica Belkin, Amy Pietz and David Burtka.

With its mix of nostalgia and fresh storytelling, ‘Elle’ aims to expand the ‘Legally Blonde’ universe while introducing a new generation to the origins of one of pop culture’s most enduring characters.