Casting is now open forElle. The upcomingLegally BlondeTV showis set to be a prequel following Elle Woods, the character originally played by Reese Witherspoon in the iconic 2001 comedy, during her high school years before she ever chased her ex-boyfriend to Harvard and discovered her true self instead, becoming a talented lawyer in the process. Witherspoon and her media company Hello Sunshine are partnering with Amazon on the project, which is set to air on Prime Video in 2025.
On her official Instagram account,Reese Witherspoonshared a video announcing that casting is now under way for the teenage Elle Woods. In addition to that, she revealed thatit will be an open casting call.The actor invited anybody who wishes to audition to “send your submissions to the link in my bio.” See her post below:
The link in Witherspoon’s bio leads to a website calledFinding Elle. The casting breakdown reveals that the show is currently expected to shoot in Vancouver from April through July 2025 and thatvideo submissions are due on October 25. The auditioners, which are required to be over 18 years of age, are asked to perform two scenes and also send in a video slate. Read the site’s official description of teenage Elle Woods below:
A high school version of the iconic character Reese Witherspoon played in the Legally Blonde films, 18+ to play 16, white female. A driven, natural-born leader who will always stop to straighten another woman’s crown. With Bel Air tastes and an allergy to social injustice, Elle’s magnetic personality brightens the world with confidence, vulnerability, and an earnestness that charms everyone around her. Coming of age in the 90s, Elle will encounter her first love and her first heartbreak, and she will find her moral convictions.
The first scene, which can be downloaded on the site, sees young Elle defending a fellow student when a Driver’s Ed teacher is mocking her,showing Elle’s legal aptitude at an early age. The second scene sees Elle confiding in her Calculus teacher, revealing that she does not necessarily feel that she fits in at high school, even though she is popular.
What This Open Casting Call Means For Elle
The Show Could Launch A New Teen Star
The fact that the casting call for Elle Woods is entirely open means that a complete unknown could be taking on the role of Elle Woods in the prequel to the iconicReese Witherspoon movie. Thiscould launch a new teen star into the pop culture stratospherein the same way that theHarry Potterfranchise introduced young actors Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint to global fame, among others.
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint both made their onscreen acting debuts in 2001’sHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
However,this does not necessarily mean that they will cast an unknown to play Elle Woodswhen the show goes into production. The show bears a certain similarity to theSex and the CityprequelThe Carrie Diaries, which centered AnnaSophia Robb as a young Carrie Bradshaw. Robb had already had a robust child acting career before taking on the role in the high school show, including starring in the moviesBridge to TerabithiaandBecause of Winn-Dixie, and the producers may ultimately choose to go in a similar direction.
Our Take On The Legally Blonde Open Casting
The Prime Video Show Is On Steady Ground
The fact that the producers are willing to explore casting a complete unknown in the lead role inElleshows that they have confidence in the project drawing audience attention without an A-list lead. This could be because of the project’s attachment to a popular IP. However, it could also be because the plan is to cast major stars in supporting roles,bolstering the potential unknown playing Elle Woods with better-known actors, possibly including legacy stars such as Witherspoon herself, Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, orAmerican Piefranchisestar Jennifer Coolidge, playing other characters in the same universe.
