Prime Video's Revival Of Beloved 2000s Franchise Looks So Good, It's Renewed For Season 2 Before It Even Starts

Many teen movies that defined the 2000s have aged badly despite being considered a must-watch at the time, but the most enduring is arguably Legally Blonde. This is not only one of Reese Witherspoon's best movies, but it gave us the iconic Elle Woods, whose journey of self-discovery was not just inspirational but quotable. On the surface, Legally Blonde is a "fish out of water" story about a young woman who uproots her entire life for a man and finds her own path, but the show also touched on other issues that were rarely explored at the time.

Legally Blonde highlighted what would later become the #metoo movement through the shocking twist in which Elle's professor tries to trade a career boost for sex, addresses stereotypes, and even pokes fun at classism, in which Warner's father "makes a call" to get him into Harvard after he is waitlisted, while he sends his laundry out rather than learning to wash his own clothes. It is this wit and social commentary, as well as Witherspoon's performance, that made Legally Blonde so good, while the movie's sequels did not live up to the original.

Now, the Legally Blonde prequel TV show is almost here, with Witherspoon as executive producer. While the two Legally Blonde movie sequels failed by leaning into the comedy and blonde references without as much of the substance of the first movie, the TV show looks more promising. Elle will follow Elle Woods through a move from California to Seattle during her high school years, and while it looks as though Elle is retelling Legally Blonde's plot, this may not be the case, with Prime Video already demonstrating that the platform has faith in the project.

Elle's Early Renewal Is A Big Sign Of Faith In The Legally Blonde Prequel

Elle is due to arrive onscreen on July 1st, and aside from the trailer and some teaser clips, there has not been much revealed. It is understandable that details of the Legally Blonde prequel are being kept under wraps, as the movie has such an unforgettable legacy, but this means that fans have not yet had the chance to experience the TV show. Still, despite this secrecy, Prime Video has such faith in Elle that the streaming platform has renewed the show for season 2 before season 1 has even started.

The trailer shows Elle getting the shock of her life when her family uproots from sunny Bel-Air to Seattle, the home of grunge. Just as Legally Blonde shows Elle attempting a "serious law student" look, Elle takes this a step further, donning a customized Nirvana T-shirt, complete with pink diamanté and heart-shaped eyes. Many of Legally Blonde's original viewers grew up in the grunge era, and the moment makes it clear that Elle is designed to appeal to both millennials and a younger audience who are enjoying the 1990s fashion revival.

Elle's '90s Setting Makes For An Exciting Shake-Up

Elle's setting and fashion evokes some of the timeless 1990s teen shows that we could not live without, like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in reverse, with Elle's California background being as big a contrast to Seattle's culture as possible. Many beloved 1990s movies place a lovable main character in a situation in which she must learn to trust in herself, so while this is a similar plot to Legally Blonde, it is very typical for a 1990s-set show that looks ready to appeal to nostalgia.

With the 1990s currently having a style moment, there are plenty of opportunities to highlight the decade's best and worst aesthetics while developing relationships that are important in Legally Blonde. This includes Elle's bond with Bruiser, her chihuahua, as well as her family, who, based on Legally Blonde's setting, will move back to California by the time the TV show ends. Witherspoon told The Hollywood Reporter that "I wanted to see who she was before college, before law school," and with less than a week before Elle streams on Prime Video, we are about to find out.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter