Legally Blonde (franchise)

Last updated

Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde logo.png
Official franchise logo
Created by Amanda Brown
Original work Legally Blonde (2001)
by Amanda Brown
Owner Amazon MGM Studios
Years2001–present
Print publications
Novel(s) Legally Blonde (2001)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television series Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods (2008 reality series)
Television film(s)
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s) Legally Blonde (2007–2022)
Audio
Soundtrack(s) Legally Blonde: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Legally Blonde (stylized as LEGALLY blonde) is an American media franchise created by Amanda Brown. It consists of American comedy films, a Broadway musical, a reality television series, and a cancelled television series. The films include two theatrical releases, one musical television film, one straight-to-home video release, and a third theatrical film in development. The installments follow the comical adventures of Elle Woods, portrayed by actress Reese Witherspoon in the films, a blonde California University of Los Angeles sorority president, who enrolls in law school. [1]

Contents

Origin

The media franchise is based on the 2001 novel, Legally Blonde , written by Amanda Brown. The novel was based on Brown's experiences while enrolled in Stanford Law School. [2]

Elle Woods, a blonde California University of Los Angeles sorority president and homecoming queen, is deeply in love with her college sweetheart, Warner Huntington III. When Warner enrolls in Harvard Law School and aims to find a girl more serious than Elle to be his wife, Elle schemes a plan to follow him there to win him back.

Films

Feature films

FilmU.S.release dateDirectorScreenwriter(s)Story byProducers
Legally Blonde July 13, 2001 Robert Luketic Kirsten Smith & Karen McCullah Lutz Marc Platt & Ric Kidney
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde July 2, 2003 Charles Herman-Wurmfeld Kate KondellEve Ahlert, Dennis Drake & Kate KondellMarc Platt, David Nicksay, Jennifer Simpson & Stephen Traxler
Legally Blonde 3 TBAJamie SukKaren McCullah, Kirsten Smith, Mindy Kaling & Dan Goor Karen McCullah & Kirsten SmithMarc Platt, Adam Siegel & Reese Witherspoon

Legally Blonde (2001)

Former Sorority President Elle Woods is happy and in love with her boyfriend. She wants nothing more than to be married, and become Mrs. Warner Huntington III. Huntington, however will not propose stating that she is "too blonde". Determined to win him over, and prove to herself that there's more to her than her looks, Elle rallies all of her resources and applies for the law program at Harvard University. [3]

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)

Elle travels to Washington, D.C., determined to present her stance for animal rights. Ignored by every one she encounters, she learns that the Capitol can be more difficult to navigate than The Ivy League university law school from which she attained her J.D. degree. After befriending, and gaining the sympathy of a Massachusetts congresswoman named Victoria Rudd, Elle attains the chance of getting to present her arguments. To make a difference, she must convince the Legislature to take her seriously. [4]

Legally Blonde 3 (TBA)

In June 2018, Reese Witherspoon entered negotiations with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to produce and star in a third installment in the Legally Blonde film series. Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith were hired as co-screenwriters. [5] MGM later confirmed in a Twitter post that Legally Blonde 3 was set to be released on May 8, 2020, [6] though it did not meet this date. In May 2020, it was announced that Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor would write an entirely new script for the film. [7]

In April 2023, it was announced that after acquiring MGM, Amazon has plans to expand the franchise with the aforementioned film, as well as a television series in development. [8]

Television films

FilmU.S.
release date
Director(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducers
Legally Blonde 2003Charles Herman-Wurmfeld Rachel Sweet Marc Platt, Rachel Sweet and John Whitman
Legally Blonde: The Musical October 13, 2007 Beth McCarthy-Miller & Jerry Mitchell Heather Hach Marta Ravin
Legally Blondes April 28, 2009 Savage Steve Holland Chad Gomez Creasey & Dara Resnik Creasey Marc Platt, Reese Witherspoon, Sean McNamara, Jennifer Simpson, Sara Berrisford, David Brookwell, Hudson Hickman, David Buelow and David Grace

Legally Blonde (2003)

Originally filmed as the pilot episode of a cancelled television series, Legally Blonde aired through private viewing television in 2003. Jennifer Hall stars as Elle Woods, with the series intended to adapt the many misadventures she encountered as a former-sorority sister at Harvard University. The network executives ultimately passed on ordering a season for the series. In 2017, the film was widely released on YouTube as a television film, and was received with negative reviews. [9] [10] [11]

Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007)

Three performances of the Broadway musical was filmed and aired on MTV in 2007. The television adaptation was co-directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and Jerry Mitchell, from a script by Heather Hach, with music and lyrics were co-written by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin.

Legally Blondes (2009)

With Elle Woods away as a successful lobbyist in Washington D.C., her two younger British cousins Annabelle "Annie" Woods and Isabelle "Izzy" Woods (played by Camilla and Rebecca Rosso) move to California to live in her home. The pair learn that they will be attending the Pacific Preparatory School and they upset the dominant social set of their fashion tastes and personalities. [12] Originally intended as the pilot film of a cancelled television series, Legally Blondes began airing on ABC Family and Disney Channel on April 28, 2009, simultaneous with a direct-to-DVD release.

Cast and characters

List indicator(s)
Character Feature films Television films
Legally Blonde Legally Blonde 2:
Red, White & Blonde
Legally Blonde 3 Legally Blonde Legally Blonde:
The Musical
Legally Blondes
20012003TBA200320072009
Elle Woods Reese Witherspoon Jennifer Hall Laura Bell Bundy Reese Witherspoon A P
Paulette Bonafonté Jennifer Coolidge Orfeh
Emmett Richmond Luke Wilson Christian Borle
Bruiser Woods Moonie TBA Various dogs
Vivian/Vivienne Kensington Selma Blair Selma Blair Kate Shindle
Margot Chapman Jessica Cauffiel TBA Annaleigh Ashford
Serena McGuire Alanna Ubach Tracy Jai Edwards
UPS Guy Bruce Thomas Andy Karl
Warner Huntington III Matthew Davis Richard H. Blake
Professor Callahan Victor Garber Michael Rupert
Brooke Taylor-Windham Ali Larter Nikki Snelson
Chutney Windham Linda Cardellini Kate Wetherhead
Dewey Newcombe John Kapelos U Andy Karl
Enid Wexler Meredith Scott Lynn Natalie Joy Johnson
Enrique Salvatore / Nikos Greg Serano Manuel Herrera
Mrs. Woods (Elle's mother)
Courtney & Whitney
Tane McClure Gaelen Gilliland
Mr. Woods (Elle's father) James Read Kevin Pariseau
Chuck / Carlos Jason Christopher Matthew Risch
Judge Marina R. Bickford Francesca P. Roberts Amber Efé
DA Joyce RileyShannon O'HurleyMichelle Kittrell
Arrogant AaronKelly NyksNoah Weisberg
Professor Elspeth Stromwell Holland Taylor
David Kidney Oz Perkins
Harvard Admissions Counselor Wayne Federman
Mrs. Windham-Vandermark Raquel Welch
Amy Kimberly McCullough
CULA Advisor Allyce Beasley
Tiffany Donohugh Jennifer Tisdale TBA Brittany Curran
Victoria Rudd Sally Field
Grace Rossiter Regina King
Sid Post Bob Newhart
Stan Marks Bruce McGill
Libby Hauser Dana Ivey
Bruiser's Mom Gidget
Reena Giuliani Mary Lynn Rajskub
Timothy McGinnJ. Barton
Kevin Sam Pancake
Security Guard Octavia Spencer
Becky Sarah Shahi U
Congressional Intern Masi Oka U
Pilar Asmeret Ghebremichael
PforzhiemerJason Gillman
Annabelle "Annie" WoodsTBA C Camilla Rosso
Isabelle "Izzy" Woods Rebecca Rosso
Headmistress Elsa Higgins Lisa Banes
Mr. Richard Woods Christopher Cousins
Mr. Gary Golden Curtis Armstrong
Sylvia Rose Abdoo
Christopher Lopez Bobby Campo
Justin Whitley Chad Broskey
Ashley Meadows Chloe Bridges
Ms. Chang Amy Hill
Brad Wellington Christoph Sanders
Marcie Tanya Chisholm
VivekKunal Sharma
RainbowTeo Olivares

Reality series

A reality competition television series in conjunction with the musical titled Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods debuted on MTV in 2008. [13] The show debuted on June 2, 2008 as a competition show, where the winner would be cast in the lead role. Bailey Hanks ultimately won, and in addition to being cast in the starring role, was given the opportunity to record her own single of the musical's first-act number titled, "So Much Better". The show concluded on July 21, 2008. Autumn Hurlbert was the runner up. She served as Hanks' understudy and performed in the ensemble of the show. Bundy's last performance in the musical was on July 20, 2008. Hanks began performances on July 23, 2008 and remained with the show until it closed on October 19, 2008. [14]

Stage

A Legally Blonde musical debuted in 2007, [15] with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. It premiered in pre-Broadway tryouts in San Francisco, California. In April 2007 the show moved to Broadway, opening to mixed reviews. Jerry Mitchell directed and choreographed. The original cast starred Laura Bell Bundy as Elle, Christian Borle as Emmett and Richard H. Blake as Warner. It received seven Tony nominations and ten Drama Desk nominations but did not win any.

Novels

Following the release of the feature film, a series of teenage novels based jointly on the original book and the film series followed. Written by Natalie Standiford, the book series follows the continued adventures of Elle Woods. [16] [17]

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingBudgetWorldwide
Total income
Ref.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll-time
North America
All-time
worldwide
Legally Blonde $96,493,426$45,315,809$141,809,235#786#1,872$18,000,000$123,809,235 [18] [19]
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde $90,639,088$34,700,000$125,339,088#843#2,221$45,000,000$80,339,088 [20] [21]
Legally Blonde 3 TBATBATBATBATBATBATBA

Critical response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic Cinemascore [22]
Legally Blonde71% (150 reviews) [23] 59 (32 reviews) [24] A−
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde37% (156 reviews) [25] 47 (39 reviews) [26] B
Legally Blondes— (2 reviews) [27]
Legally Blonde 3TBATBATBA

Related Research Articles

<i>Cruel Intentions</i> 1999 American romantic drama film by Roger Kumble

Cruel Intentions is a 1999 American teen romantic drama film written and directed by Roger Kumble and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The film is a modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, set in New York City among rich high schoolers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese Witherspoon</span> American actress (born 1976)

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 and 2015, and Forbes listed her among the World's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2019 and 2021. In 2021, Forbes named her the world's highest earning actress, and in 2023, she was named one of the richest women in America with an estimated net worth of $440 million.

<i>Legally Blonde</i> 2001 film by Robert Luketic

Legally Blonde is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, based on Amanda Brown's 2001 novel of the same name. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, Matthew Davis, Victor Garber, and Jennifer Coolidge. The story follows Elle Woods (Witherspoon), a sorority girl who attempts to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Davis) by getting a Juris Doctor degree at Harvard Law School, and in the process, overcomes stereotypes against blondes and triumphs as a successful lawyer.

<i>Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde</i> 2003 film by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld and written by Kate Kondell. It is a sequel to the 2001 film Legally Blonde and the second film in the Legally Blonde series. It stars Reese Witherspoon alongside an ensemble cast featuring Sally Field, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge, Bruce McGill, Dana Ivey, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Bob Newhart, Luke Wilson, and Bruce Thomas, with Coolidge, Wilson, and Thomas reprising their roles from the first film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheridan Smith</span> English actress and singer

Sheridan Smith OBE is an English actress, singer, and television personality. Smith came to prominence after playing a variety of characters on sitcoms such as The Royle Family (1999–2000), Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2009), Gavin & Stacey (2008–2010), and Benidorm (2009). She co-starred as Joey Ross in the drama series Jonathan Creek between 2009 and 2013, and went on to receive acclaim for starring in a succession of television dramas, such as Mrs Biggs (2012), Cilla (2014), The C Word (2015), Black Work (2015), The Moorside (2017), Cleaning Up (2019), and Four Lives (2022). Her film credits include Tower Block (2012), Quartet (2012), The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016), and The Railway Children Return (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Davis</span> American actor (born 1978)

Matthew Wadsworth Davis is an American actor. He is mostly known for his roles as Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde, Adam Hillman on the ABC comedy-drama What About Brian from 2006 to 2007 and Alaric Saltzman on The CW fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2017 as well as the spin-off series Legacies from 2018 to 2022. He starred on the short-lived CW mystery and horror drama Cult as Jeff Sefton, and had a recurring role on the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Sean Yeager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elle Woods</span> Fictional character in the "Legally Blonde" franchise

Elle Woods is the protagonist of Amanda Brown's 2001 novel Legally Blonde and the 2001 film of the same name as well as the 2003 sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde. Woods is also the protagonist of the 2007 Broadway adaptation of the film. Woods is also the basis of a series of young adult fiction novels by Natalie Standiford. The character is mentioned but not seen in the 2009 direct-to-video sequel, Legally Blondes, which portrays the adventures of her twin British cousins. In 2018, Ariana Grande referenced Elle in several scenes of her "Thank U, Next" music video.

<i>Legally Blonde</i> (musical) 2007 musical

Legally Blonde is a 2007 musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach. It is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camilla and Rebecca Rosso</span> British-Latina twin actresses and singers (born 1994)

Camilla "Milly" Rosso and Rebecca "Becky" Rosso are British identical twin former actresses and singers from London. They are best known for their roles as Janice (Milly) and Jessica (Becky) Ellis on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and for their roles as Annabelle "Annie" (Milly) and Isabelle "Izzy" (Becky) Woods in Legally Blondes (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tané McClure</span> American actress, singer

Tané M. McClure, sometimes credited as Tahnee Cain and Tané Cain, is an American actress, singer, producer, writer, director and film editor.

<i>Legally Blondes</i> 2009 film by Savage Steve Holland

Legally Blondes is a 2009 American direct-to-DVD teen comedy film directed by Savage Steve Holland. Filmed as a pilot to a cancelled television series, it is a spin-off of the Legally Blonde film series. Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle Woods in the first two Legally Blonde films, serves as a producer. The film stars Milly and Becky Rosso as Elle's British twin cousins.

<i>Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods</i> American TV series or program

Legally Blonde: The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods is an MTV program created in order to cast an actress to replace Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle Woods in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. The show debuted on June 2, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Durack</span> Australian actress (born 1982)

Lucy Durack is an Australian actress, singer and television personality who played Glinda in the Australian production of Wicked, and Elle Woods in the Australian production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. She starred as Tugger in Australian television drama Doctor Doctor in 2016 and as Roxy Karibas in Sisters in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bailey Hanks</span> American singer, actress, and dancer (born 1988)

Bailey Noel Hanks Weidman is an American singer, actress, and dancer best known for winning MTV's Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods. She performed on Broadway as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autumn Hurlbert</span> American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1980)

Autumn Marie Hurlbert is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Hurlbert is best known as the runner-up on the reality competition series Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods. After taping the competition, Hurlbert served as a member of the Broadway cast in Legally Blonde: The Musical until its closing on Oct 19, 2008. She also understudied the parts of Elle and Margot on Broadway. Ultimately, Hurlbert did headline as Elle Woods in an October 2012 version of the production, directed by Denis Jones in North Carolina.

Heather Hach is an American screenwriter, librettist, and novelist.

Lauren Ashley Zakrin is an American musical theatre actress. She was a finalist in MTV's Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods, coming in fourth place overall. She has appeared on Broadway, as well as in national tours and regional theatre.

<i>Legally Blonde</i> (novel) 2001 novel by Amanda Brown

Legally Blonde is a 2001 romantic comedy novel by American author Amanda Brown, with a copyright credit also going to Brigid (Bridget) Kerrigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moonie (dog)</span> Chihuahua canine actor

Moonie, also known as Moondoggie, was a canine actor. He was a Chihuahua best known for his role as Bruiser Woods in the films Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, appearing alongside actress Reese Witherspoon. He lived with Gidget, another Chihuahua who was famous for her Taco Bell commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese Witherspoon filmography</span>

Reese Witherspoon is an American actress. She made her acting debut in The Man in the Moon (1991). Her second box office performance was with Kiefer Sutherland in Freeway (1996) in which Witherspoon played a youth troubled by victimization and neglect who has a violent murderous streak, but in the name of protecting vulnerable youth from sexual predation by seemingly perverted men. She then rose to prominence in 1999 with Cruel Intentions and for her portrayal of Tracy Flick in the black comedy Election, which earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical nomination. She achieved fame for her work on romantic comedies with her role as Elle Woods in the comedy Legally Blonde (2001) and its 2003 sequel, as well as her starring role in Sweet Home Alabama (2002). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in the 2005 biographical musical film Walk the Line. She also received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the 2014 drama Wild.

References

  1. Bohn, Casey (October 24, 2016). "Jackie v. Marilyn: The Surprisingly Complex Identity Politics Of LEGALLY BLONDE".
  2. Silverman, Amy (October 30, 2003). "Legally Brown". Phoenix New Times .
  3. "Legally Blonde". July 7, 2001.
  4. "Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde". July 2003.
  5. McNary, Dave (June 4, 2018). "Reese Witherspoon in Talks to Return for 'Legally Blonde 3'". Variety . Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  6. Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2019). "'Morbius' & 'Ghostbusters' Solidify Summer 2020 Release Dates". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  7. D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 18, 2020). "'Legally Blonde 3': Mindy Kaling & Dan Goor Giving Fresh Take To MGM-Hello Sunshine Sequel". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie; White, Peter (April 14, 2023). "'Robocop,' 'Stargate', 'Legally Blonde' & 'Barbershop' Among Titles In Works For Film & TV As Amazon Looks To Supercharge MGM IP". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  9. "Legally Blonde (TV Movie 2003)". IMDb.
  10. Failed and Unaired Pilots Tv (March 9, 2017). "Legally Blonde 2003Unsold Pilot". YouTube.
  11. Anna Green (April 4, 2016). "10 Strange and Amazing TV Pilots the Networks Passed On". mental_floss.
  12. "Legally Blondes (2008)".
  13. Hale, Mike (June 9, 2008). "Suspense Is, Like, Totally Total". The New York Times .
  14. Hetrick, Adam (October 18, 2008). "Case Closed: Legally Blonde Ends Broadway Run Oct. 19". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  15. Brantley, Ben (April 30, 2007). "Candy Worship in the Temple of the Prom Queen". The New York Times .
  16. "Juvenile Series and Sequels Title: Elle Woods". Mid-Continent Public Library. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015.
  17. "Legally Elle Woods". fictfact.com.
  18. "Legally Blonde (2001) - Financial Information".
  19. "Legally Blonde".
  20. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) - Financial Information".
  21. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde".
  22. "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  23. "Legally Blonde (2001)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  24. "Legally Blonde". Metacritic . Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  25. "Legally Blonde 2 – Red, White & Blonde". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  26. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde". Metacritic . Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  27. "Legally Blondes (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 24, 2020.