Actor Reese Witherspoon made a young actor emotional when she announced the casting news for the upcoming prequel series to Legally Blonde.
Witherspoon played the starring role of Elle Woods in the 2001 comedy film Legally Blonde, which followed Elle, a sorority girl who goes to Harvard in a failed attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend but beats the odds and overcomes stereotypes to become a successful lawyer.
The new Amazon Prime series Elle will follow the titular character prior to the events in Legally Blonde, with the lead role to be played by a budding actor whom Witherspoon introduced on Instagram.
The 48-year-old Oscar winner wrote in the caption:
"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."
"And today, I got to break the news myself! Meet @leximinetree 💕🌟💅🏼"
The video started with Witherspoon giddily pacing in a hotel room, saying:
“I’m so excited. Oh my god!”
"Wait, she's coming," Witherspoon excitedly whispers as the unsuspecting actor, Lexi Minetree, enters the room.
After exchanging greetings, the two take a seat on the couch and Witherspoon cautiously explains to Minetree without giving anything away just yet:
“Your audition tape was amazing, as we talked about."
"And we had to make a really hard decision, and we wanted to tell you in person because you’ve just worked really hard."
The star of Big Little Lies and The Morning Show then breaks the good news with:
"We just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to audition anymore because you got the part."
Minetree immediately started crying happy tears and asked, "Wait, really?" to which Witherspoon nodded and confirmed:
"You’re Elle Woods."
Both Elles from different generations embraced over the celebratory news.
"I haven’t slept in three nights,” said Witherspoon, who announced there would be an open audition for the prequel series back in September.
“I wanted to tell you sooner," she told the future star.
Minetree asked if they could share the exciting news with her mom, Anne, and had Witherspoon speak first.
"I have some really good news. But actually, I would prefer to have Lexi tell you," she said and handed to phone to Minetree. When she broke the news, mother and daughter squealed in delight.
"Y'all sound exactly alike," Anne commented.
Witherspoon added:
"Isn't it crazy? When I saw her tape, I was like, 'Are we the same person?' This is so weird."
People were thrilled for the up-and-comer and thought the interaction was so pure and delightful.
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People also commented on the uncanny resemblances the actors share.
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Minetree has so far appeared in an episode of Law & Order: SVU and the crime-thriller Murdaugh Murders: The Movie.
Now, she can add playing the lead role in Elle to her growing resume, which will surely open doors for her.
She later commented on the viral Instagram clip expressing gratitude to Witherspoon.
"EEEK!!! So lovely meeting you in person and I promise I’m gunna make you so proud💖"
According to the Prime series' description, "Elle follows Elle Woods 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."
TV Insider shared that Elle was created for television by co-showrunner and executive producer Laura Kittrell, along with Caroline Dries.
Witherspoon, Lauren Nuestadter, Lauren Kisilevsky, and Marc Platt serve as executive producers.
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