When it comes to the case of Elle vs. Legally Blonde, we have no objections.
Twenty-five years after Reese Witherspoon charmed the briefs off of audiences as plucky Harvard Law School student Elle Woods in the 2001 film, the heroine finally has a real origin story that expands upon that pampered pre-Ivy League life as a California University of Los Angeles fashion merchandising major with a 4.0 we know so well.
In the new Prime Video series Elle, premiering July 1, Lexi Minetree takes on the title role in her high school years, and of course changes had to be made and circumstances created to give the story enough juice for multiple seasons.
And to show you just how valuable that Elle Woods IP can be, Elle has already been renewed for season two.
"The goal was always to keep the optimism of the original character, the joy and the kindness," co-showrunner Laura Kittrell told E! News, "and making sure those qualities that are inherent to her were always there for us."
Added co-showrunner Caroline Dries, "The movie is our North star, so we were always deferential to what happened in the movie, tonally and plot-wise."
But while canon is important, and Elle has all the Legally Blonde Easter eggs to prove it, it's perfect day to brush up on the key changes that have been made to Elle Woods' early years, long before she's welcomed to Harvard:
Meet self-described "theater kid" Lexi Minetree, whose audition to play the iconic character included a self-produced (as in, not directed by a Coppola) remake of Elle Woods' Harvard application video. And in addition to being blonde and adorable, there are other ways you'll definitely recognize the iconic character in her latest incarnation.
The 25-year-old told E! that Witherspoon, who's an executive producer on the series, reminded her, "The thing about Elle is that, no matter how unkind someone's been to her, she always takes the high road. She's never a bully, but she always stands up for herself."
"And I really took that with me because there's some meanies in the show or people who misjudge her," Minetree continued, "but she still shows some kindness and I think that's a testament to her character. Ultimately she connects with them after and they end up becoming her friends."
In Legally Blonde, it's very key that Elle hails from Los Angeles and grew up in the moneyed enclave of Bel Air. And since she's about to graduate from an esteemed public university—the fictional California University of Los Angeles is akin to Elle going to UCLA (which is so stately it played parts of Harvard in the film, as did nearby USC)—the sorority president has obviously spent her formative years living in an area where it's possible on any given day to save Cameron Diaz from buying a hideous orange sweater.
Elle, meanwhile, starts with the Woods family living in sunny L.A.—and then they move to oft-gray Seattle, where the pink-loving title character has to make her way in a high school where grunge, flannel and the color black rules.
“It’s bleak, it’s rainy, it’s cloudy, and that’s what she’s feeling inside,” Dries told TV Line. "But it’s not just the weather. The kids are really anti-establishment, and Elle has never even thought [in that way]."
There was lots of room for growth here, as Elle's supportive but unserious parents in Legally Blonde—played by James Read and Tane McClure—are literally named "Elle's Father" and "Elle's Mother."
In Elle, Tom Everett Scott plays plastic surgeon Dr. Wyatt Woods and June Diane Raphael is Eva Woods. Wyatt moves the family to Seattle after he botches a nose job for a high-profile patient and decides it's best to put some distance between his practice and the Thirty-Mile Zone.
To help soothe her angst about the impending move to Seattle, Elle's parents gift her a chihuahua puppy—and yes, it's supposed to be the Bruiser that's still by Elle's side when she gets to Harvard in Legally Blonde (and goes to Washington, D.C., in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde).
Before passing away in 2016 at the distinguished age of 18, rescue pup Moonie played Bruiser in both films.
Three dogs—Pixie, Cruiser and mostly Bruiser (named as a newborn after he was scouted to be on the show)—play Elle's beloved companion in the series, while a stuffed animal named Snoozer is his stand-in.
No, a younger version of Warner Huntington III does not appear in Elle—at least, not in season one. But Matthew Davis, who played that complete bonehead in Legally Blonde, did participate in a June 21 cast reunion panel moderated by Las Culturistas hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, part of the official festivities leading up to the Elle premiere.
While there's plenty to infer about Elle's future prospects, judging by the local mystery the clever teen helps unravel when she gets to Seattle, she's all about snagging that summer internship at Cosmopolitan.
And with Elle's journey underway, read on to see all the TV premiere dates any Cosmo girl should know:
In the Eye of the Storm (Discovery Channel) - June 28
Told through firsthand accounts and mobile phone footage filmed by everyday people caught in the eye of the storm, each episode captures the chaos, courage and resilience of both unsuspecting citizens and those who dive into the chaos for search and rescue.
Adventure Time: Side Quests (Hulu & DIsney+) - June 29
The new series follows young hero Finn and his magical dog best friend Jake as they embark on adventures across the fantastical land of Ooo—partying with cloud people and punching evil in the butt along the way.
Living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Type 3, a rare brittle bone disorder, Jay and Pamela continue to face unique health challenges with resilience, humor, and unwavering positivity, inspiring viewers with their determination to build a full and independent life on their own terms.
This season, Jay and Pamela head to New York for their first-ever fashion show debut together, stepping into the spotlight for a major milestone moment. Back at home, they celebrate Jay turning 30, reflect on what it truly means to be on their own, and open up honest conversations about the future of their relationship and growing family dreams.
In Season One, Elle follows Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) 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.
“Twenty-five years after the world met Elle Woods for the first time, it’s a dream come true to share the story of how she became the unstoppable force we all fell in love with,” Reese Witherspoon said in a press release. “Discovering Lexi Minetree and watching her step into Elle’s fabulous shoes has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career."
“Our series’ themes of kindness, authenticity, and believing in yourself will resonate deeply with fans of the original films and new audiences alike,” she added. “I can’t wait to share Season One with the world and start rolling cameras on Season Two!”
Adventure chases detective Enola Holmes to Malta, where personal and professional dreams collide on a case more tangled and treacherous than any she has faced before.
Season three continues the saga of a dystopian society of 10,000 people living underground under mysterious circumstances, while revealing an origin story set centuries earlier. In the present, Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) survives her forced “cleaning” but returns with memory loss as the silo recovers from rebellion and faces a dangerous new threat. Meanwhile, in the “Before Times,” journalist Helen Drew (Jessica Henwick) and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) uncover a conspiracy that pulls them into a chain of events with catastrophic, irreversible consequences.
Hammerhead Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory (National Geographic) - July 5
The special follows cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory as he dives into Mexico’s Pacific waters to discover how protected seas can deliver a spectacle of one of the ocean's most visually iconic sharks, the unmistakable hammerhead.
Season five finds Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) dealing with the consequences of Princess (Scarlett Rayner) and Tyler’s (Cooper Turner) biological mother Kat (Charlotte Riley) turning up at their doorstep, and the whirlwind of chaos she brings into their settled family life.
A hopeful family drama, epic survival tale, and origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s enduring, almost 100-year-old book series about growing up in the American West in the 1800s offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.
Since its beginning in 1986, Burning Man has grown from its anarchic counterculture roots in San Francisco to a globally recognized spectacle. Each year, 80,000 self-styled “Burners” congregate in the Nevada desert to create music, art, and connection, raise temples, join a spiritual movement centered on community, and take part in a modern American cultural experiment. Following the organization through several years of unprecedented turmoil, the documentary follows a movement pushed to its limits as it strives to stay operational while staying true to its core values.
The Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo) - July 9
The Bravo series' milestone 20th season is sure to heat up summer.
Heidi Klum returns to host the fashion competition series' 22nd season.
Oxygen's true crime series is back with ten all-new episodes exploring shocking homicide cases from the indisputable cultural capital of the South. As the rising music, film, and tech industries cultivate a sense of glam, hustle, and grit that marks the city’s signature style, each episode uncovers crimes that reveal the dark side of wealth, status, and power. Through firsthand accounts from detectives, journalists, and victims’ loved ones, the series examines the deadly tragedies that have shaken one of America’s most influential cultural and economic hubs.
The Real Murders of Atlanta offers an unflinching look at the perils of power, passion, ambition, and greed in the Empire of the New South, where money and danger often go hand in hand, and the same ruthlessness that pushes people to make bold moves can also lead them to kill.
The weekly series, showcasing first responders and everyday heroes, returns for its eighth season with new host Brooke Shields.
The Westies is a gritty and kinetic crime drama centering on New York City’s infamously violent Irish gang of the same name. The series is set in the early 1980s when the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the Westies’ home turf in Hell’s Kitchen promises a financial windfall. Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.
Hooligans: The ARCH Racing Project with Keanu Reeves & Gard Hollinger (Samsung TV Plus) - July 12
The docuseries chronicles Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger, founders of ARCH Motorcycle, as they shift gears from building world-class machines to competing in the high-stakes world of professional racing in MotoAmerica, America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, where they line up against the best in the Super Hooligan National Championship. With the same precision, craftsmanship and relentless drive that define their brand, the ARCH team sets out to prove they can hold their own against the giants of motorsports.
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro (ABC) - July 13
The DWTS spinoff searching for new professionals debuts summer 2026.
Homestead Rescue: Intervention (Discovery Channel) - July 14
From the fan-favorite series Homestead Rescue comes an all-new, high-stakes intervention series featuring the Raney family. Wilderness living experts Marty and Matt Raney and Misty Bilodeau heed desperate pleas from concerned family, friends, or neighbors of homesteaders living beyond the edge of survival and who are too proud to ask for help. After ambushing the off-gridders with an intervention rescue, the Raneys must confront a new range of challenges and emotions to save the failing homesteads, fractured families and fading dreams.
Lucky is based on The New York Times bestselling novel and Reese’s Book Club pick of the same name by Marissa Stapley. When a multi-million-dollar heist goes sideways, con artist Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy) is forced to go on the run. Pursued by both the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, Lucky must fight for her life—and a way out.
The action comedy follows best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham) who thought they knew everything about each other, except Judith turns out to be an international assassin. When a mysterious figure emerges from Judith’s past and a hit goes horribly wrong, both of their worlds are turned upside down as they’re forced to go on the run together. It’s a race against time and a road trip across Europe, with law enforcement, highly trained assassins, and some very dangerous criminals at their heels.
Saturday Night Live's Marcello Hernandez will host the 2026 ESPYs Presented by Capital One at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in NYC.
The Five Star Weekend is centered on Hollis Shaw, a famed cook and best selling author known for her delicious recipes, impeccable taste, and warm demeanor, who suffers a devastating loss.
Unable to move forward, the death starts to expose the cracks in Hollis’s picture-perfect life—her strained marriage, her complicated relationship with her daughter, and her growing pursuit of validation from her fans. In an effort to overcome grief and find herself again, Hollis gets the idea to host a weekend away at her house on Nantucket with three friends from different stages in her life: her childhood, her twenties, thirties, and one surprise fifth star. Set against a luxurious and coastal backdrop, the stars will mature in ways they could never imagine as boundaries are pushed and secrets are exposed.
Lonnie Hawkins, (Will Ferrell) 2004's number one golfer, struggles on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic. His body says retire, but his heart says he's not done yet. His ex-wife and his son Lance, golf's new golden boy, know he's through. But with one more major to win to complete golf's Grand Slam, Lonnie refuses to believe he's anything other than one stroke away from the greatest comeback in golf history.
Nick and Charlie are inseparable, but with Nick preparing to leave for university and Charlie finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them. Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet. Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on. Can first loves really last forever?
Hank and Peggy settle into retirement life on Rainey Street while attempting to keep their neighbors from going off the rails. Bobby navigates old friendships while dealing with the stresses of being an entrepreneur.
In a glamorous California suburb, a young woman’s arrest for a violent fantasy plot against her ex-boyfriend's new wife becomes a sensational scandal, but the truth remains hidden behind a sophisticated web of deception. As the investigation peels back layers of betrayal, it becomes unclear who is the true victim and who is the villain in a game where everyone is playing a part.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) - July 23
In season four of the Paramount+ Original Series, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise - led by Captain Christopher Pike - embark on a series of thrilling and emotional adventures across the stars. As they journey to strange new worlds, they will battle inner demons and external threats, encounter colorful new characters, reunite with familiar faces and confront terrifying aliens. Through it all, they strive to embrace a bright, hopeful future.