Actress Reese Witherspoon is handing off the pink baton to a new Elle Woods. The “Legally Blonde” actress who brought Elle to life in the 2001 comedy is producing a “Legally Blonde” prequel series with her Hello Sunshine company and Prime Video.
Witherspoon Introduces New Elle in Instagram Post
Witherspoon broke the news to the new Elle, Lexi Minetree, in person. In a video she posted on her Instagram account, it’s clear Minetree thinks she might be about to get bad news when she walks in. Witherspoon, wearing a hot pink cardigan reminiscent of Woods’ signature attire, hugs Minetree and tells her, “We had to make a really hard decision the other day.”
“We wanted to tell you in person because you’ve just worked really hard,” Witherspoon continued. “And we just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to audition anymore because you got the part. You’re Elle Woods.”
A shocked Minetree tears up and asks Witherspoon if she can hug her.
Who is Lexi Minetree?
While Minetree has appeared in various short films since 2016, her first big break was starring in the 2023 Tubi film “The Murdaugh Murders.”
She also appeared in a guest-starring role on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and starred in the Lifetime movie “The Paramedic Who Stalked Me.”
Reese Witherspoon Struck By Similarities With Minetree
In her post revealing Minetree’s casting, Witherspoon writes, “Allow me to introduce you to the new Elle Woods! After watching so many incredible auditions for the new Elle prequel series on @PrimeVideo, we finally found our Elle.”
After Witherspoon tells Minetree she’s gotten the part, the pair then take a moment to call Minetree’s mother, who declares that the actresses’ voices sounded “exactly alike.” Reese agrees, saying, “When I saw her tape I was like, ‘Are we the same person?’ This is so weird.”
As for Minetree, she referenced the pair’s similarities when reposted Witherspoon’s video on her Instagram account.
The post says, “ME!!!! yessss:) Ok ok ok, my brain is going nuts over here I don’t even know where to BEGIN. Probably with the thank you’s…ya that’s a good place to start normally, nice thinking Lexi!”
After thanking everyone involved, Minetree writes her biggest thank you to Witherspoon, “And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to @reesewitherspoon for handing me down Elle Woods. I already love her so so much, I promise she’s in good hands. P.S. thank you for showing me how amazing I am going to look in the future, soooo looking forward to that:)”
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Blonde Ambition: Reese Witherspoon Is Tickled Pink Over “Legally Blonde” Series Casting