Could Elle Woods be heading to the Oval Office? Reese Witherspoon is nearing a deal with MGM to reprise her role as a sorority president-turned-lawyer for “Legally Blonde 3.” The writers behind the original 2001 comedy, Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith and Karen McCullah, are in final talks to write the script. Deadline broke the news.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but 2003’s “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde” hinted that a presidential run could be in Elle’s future. The sequel saw the Harvard Law grad move to Washington, D.C. to work on a bill to outlaw animal testing. The pic concluded with Elle and husband Emmett (Luke Wilson) discussing where they want to live, and Elle saying, “I think I know just the place” as they drive by the White House.
A recurring theme in the franchise is that Elle is underestimated on account of her gender, idealism, and penchant for pink, so it doesn’t seem unlikely that we could see her defy expectations and become a powerful politician — and possibly become the first President to sign an executive order printed on scented pink paper.
Witherspoon is among the project’s producers.
“Legally Blonde” grossed over $141 million on a budget of $18 million, and its sequel took in more than $124 million on a budget of $45 million. The first pic — and the 2001 novel by Amanda Brown it’s based on — served as the inspiration behind the “Legally Blonde” musical, which is still touring.
Robert Luketic (“The Ugly Truth”) directed the first “Legally Blonde,” and Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (“Kissing Jessica Stein”) took over the reins for the sequel. We think it’s time for this franchise about female empowerment to get a woman director on board.
Witherspoon is reprising her Emmy-nominated role as Madeline in HBO’s “Big Little Lies.” The second season of the murder mystery is filming now. The Oscar winner is also signed on to star in and exec produce an untitled Apple drama set in the world of morning TV and a limited series based on Celeste Ng’s best-selling novel “Little Fires Everywhere” for Hulu. The former co-stars Jennifer Anison and the latter Kerry Washington.
