Elle’s Lexi Minetree Shares Wisdom from Reese Witherspoon of Legally Blonde
Lexi Minetree expresses her gratitude for having Reese Witherspoon support her during the filming of the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle.
“She’s just incredible. So warm and caring,” Minetree, 23, who portrays a younger version of Witherspoon’s character, shared exclusively with Us Weekly at the Amazon Upfronts on May 12. “She always checks in on me.”
Minetree appreciates the encouragement she’s received from Witherspoon, remarking, “[She’s] ensuring I’m staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and truly soaking in each moment, which I value immensely. She’s phenomenal.”
As she prepares to step into the shoes of Elle Woods, Minetree admitted to watching the original film “over 50 times.”
“To make the role my own, one of the directors, Jason Moore, offered advice that resonated with me: ‘Do the work, prepare, and then let your instincts take over,’” she disclosed to Us. “That’s something I’ve truly embraced as I add my personal touch to the character.”
Based on Amanda Brown‘s novel, the iconic 2001 movie Legally Blonde introduced Us to Elle Woods (Witherspoon), a sorority girl determined to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (Matthew Davis) by enrolling in Harvard Law School. The cast included Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Victor Garber, and Jennifer Coolidge, leading to a sequel two years later.
In 2018, it was announced that Witherspoon partnered with Mindy Kaling for Legally Blonde 3 — but updates have since been sparse. Attention has now shifted to Prime Video’s prequel series Elle, which, according to the official synopsis, chronicles the titular character in high school as “we discover the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we loved in the first Legally Blonde film. Essentially, it’s about the teenage years of this legendary lawyer’s journey.”
“Elle is in high school and still discovering her identity,” Minetree hinted on Monday. “She loves fashion just as she did in the movie. Audiences will appreciate that she really comes into her own during this period.”
Joining this project has made Minetree even more fond of Elle’s favorite color, noting, “I think I really need to embrace pink now, but I’ve always liked it, which is a positive!”
Regarding potential cameos from the original movie, Minetree expressed, “I would absolutely love for Jennifer Coolidge to make an appearance. She’s simply the best. Who doesn’t adore Jennifer Coolidge?”
Alongside Minetree, Elle’s parents will be played by June Diane Raphael and Tom Everett Scott. Additionally, Chandler Kinney, Gabrielle Policano, and Jacob Moskovitz have been announced as series regulars.
Elle is set to premiere in the summer of 2026 on Prime Video.
