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Prime Video’s 'Elle' Debuts to Mixed Reviews

Lexi Minetree was chosen from an open call of about 5,000 and a second season was filmed alongside the first to continue the story immediately.

Overview

  • The eight-episode prequel premiered on Amazon Prime Video on July 1, 2026 and reimagines a 16-year-old Elle Woods living in 1995 Seattle.
  • Creators led by Laura Kittrell and producer Reese Witherspoon placed Elle in the grunge-era setting to contrast her later 'pink' persona and to explore how her confidence and identity formed.
  • Lexi Minetree was cast in the title role after an open call of roughly 5,000 applicants and has drawn widespread praise for her performance.
  • Early reviews are split, with critics commending Minetree but raising questions about plot development and whether the precquel was necessary.
  • Producers confirmed season two was shot back-to-back with season one, will pick up where the first ends, adds Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to the cast, and is expected to arrive in 2027.