Elle spin-off of Legally Blonde receives mixed reviews ahead of Prime Video release

The forthcoming series 'Elle', a prequel to the beloved film 'Legally Blonde', has received a mixed bag of reviews. Taking place in 1995, the eight-episode inaugural season centers on 16-year-old Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree) as her family moves from California to Seattle following a mishap involving her plastic surgeon father and a celebrity's nose job. Reese Witherspoon, who starred in the original movie, serves as executive producer. Opinions vary significantly: The Wrap criticized it as 'boring and tedious', while Radio Times claimed it 'should be illegal', and the Independent labeled it 'slop'. In contrast, the New York Post hailed it as a 'sparkling good time', and NME awarded four stars, calling it a 'hot pink delight'. Critics acknowledged Minetree's talent but felt the writing hindered her, citing weak humor, clichéd teen drama, and inaccuracies about 1990s Seattle. The series is scheduled to debut on Prime Video on 1 July 2026, with a second season already confirmed.