The Emerald City is getting a dose of pink this summer.
If you love movies and TV shows set in the Seattle area in the ’90s, like 10 Things I Hate About You and Sleepless in Seattle, you may want to check out the newest addition to that rather niche club. Elle, the new Legally Blonde prequel coming to Prime Video this July, is set in Seattle. This begs the question: Can the famously bubbly Elle Woods melt the Seattle Freeze?
Here’s what to know.
What is Elle?
Variety reported in May 2024 that a Legally Blonde prequel series was coming to Amazon Prime Video, created by Insecure alum Laura Kittrell and with Reese Witherspoon signed on to executive produce. Initially the only information about the show, titled Elle, was that it would depict the “origin story” of Elle Woods, following her in high school. Now we know that it will be set in Seattle in 1995, the time and place where grunge was at its height. Not only is it the opposite of Elle’s posh Bel Air upbringing, but it will also provide a visual contrast for her iconic pink aesthetic.
Who is playing young Elle Woods?
In 2025, Reese Witherspoon herself announced that newcomer Lexi Minetree had been cast in the role after an open casting call. Like Witherspoon, Minetree is also from the South. According to her IMDb, her past acting credits include Law and Order: SVU, a Lifetime movie, and several other small roles.
What is the premise?
As seen in the trailer, Elle’s parents, Eva (June Diane Raphael) and Wyatt (Tom Everett Scott), break the news to her that they’re moving to Seattle. According to the official show description, we’ll get to “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.” A news release from Amazon MGM Studios expands on that, detailing that viewers will watch as Elle “encounters tricky friendships, forbidden romance and questionable fashion choices.”
Why is it set in Seattle?
When Kittrell was scouting for the setting she avoided the East Coast entirely because she didn’t want the story to be “too similar to the movie.” She told Elle Magazine that she landed on Seattle after asking herself, “‘What’s the most interesting thing that was happening in 1995 in the United States where [Elle] could go?’”
Is there a trailer?
The first teaser trailer dropped this week, giving us our first glimpse of what to expect in terms of Seattle’s on-screen portrayal. It appears to represent a pretty typical caricature of the Emerald City in the ’90s: pouring rain outside of Elle’s window, a high school full of flannel-clad teens, and Elle immediately standing out from the crowd with her umbrella (in hot pink of course).
Where was it filmed?
Like many other films and shows set in Seattle but not actually filmed here, the majority of Elle Season 1 was filmed in British Columbia and LA, according to IMDb. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if we get a glimpse of any famous Seattle landmarks, similar to how 10 Things I Hate About You featured the Fremont Troll and Gas Works Park.
When does it debut?
Elle premiers on Prime Video on July 1.
