Everything We Know About Legally Blonde 3

The sequel Legally Blonde 3 is finally on the way, over 20 years after the original hit movie debuted. The third installment will once again star Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, the dainty sorority girl-turned-lawyer who won fans the world over since her debut in 2001. The new film is a direct sequel to Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde, which debuted in theaters in 2003.

Audiences fell in love with Elle Woods’ charm and sharp fashion sense, as well as her wit among stuffy law students at Harvard. In fact, adoration for the film’s characters and plot is largely what makes the film a timeless classic. For one, many of the movie’s scenes are visually iconic, hence why pop star Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” music video referenced Legally Blonde. At the time of its release, it may not have been marketed as a feminist film. However, female fans of the franchise have lauded Elle Woods as a feminist icon over the years, citing the ways she complicated stereotypes about sorority girls and highly feminine women and their career aspirations.

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The first film saw Woods enroll in Harvard Law School to spite her ex-boyfriend, Warner, who broke up with her on the basis that she couldn’t handle the seriousness of his education at the school. Woods ultimately got the last laugh, successfully arguing a court case, graduating from Harvard Law, and getting a new boyfriend in the process. Reese Witherspoon returned for Legally Blonde 2, which continued the love story between Woods and boyfriend-turned-fiance Emmett Richmond (played by Luke Wilson), with the sequel culminating in their marriage. With a husband, a loving dog, and a law degree in tow, what could Elle Woods be up to now? Here’s what fans can expect from Legally Blonde 3.

Legally Blonde 3 Release Date

One of the most anticipated movies of 2022, Legally Blonde 3 is set to arrive in theaters on May 20, 2022. Witherspoon first announced the sequel way back in 2018, so the project has been in development for some time. Production was a rocky one due to two major setbacks; the coronavirus delays brought production to a halt, and changes were made to the writing team part-way through.

Legally Blonde 3 Cast

Outside of Witherspoon returning to the series, various other actors from the original films are slated to return. So far, confirmed cast members include Jennifer Coolidge, who played Paulette Bonafonté in the first two movies, and Alanna Ubach and Jessica Cauffel reprising the roles of Elle’s besties Margot and Serena McGuire, respectively. Luke Wilson, who had a major role in the previous two Legally Blonde movies, has not yet been confirmed as returning.

Though no additional actors have been confirmed yet, other original cast members are likely to return as well, judging from a recent anniversary panel by Hello Sunshine, Witherspoon’s production company. In fact, Witherspoon had more of a say in the production this time around, since Hello Sunshine is producing Legally Blonde 3. Also, the change in writers for the film brought big names along with it. Mindy Kaling and Brooklyn Nine-Nine creator Dan Goor re-wrote the screenplay, so fans could expect a comedic tone consistent with Kaling’s wit and Goor’s wholesome humor.

Legally Blonde 3 Story Details

Although details are scarce, the Legally Blonde 3 story will focus on Elle Woods roughly 20 years after the events of Legally Blonde and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde. The story will see the “bend and snap” lawyer now in her 40s, rather than 20s. This leaves ample potential for stories: the ending of Legally Blonde 2 hinted that Elle is interested in pursuing a career in politics, while the setting sets up a perfect opportunity to introduce Emmett and Elle’s son or daughter — the next generation of Legally Blonde.

The plot of the third movie is not yet known, but Witherspoon and Kaling have alluded to there being prevalent female-empowerment themes in the new installment. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Witherspoon said Legally Blonde 3 will be “full of awesome feminist ideas.” As with any aspect of social discourse, feminist perspectives have certainly evolved since 2001. It will be entertaining to see how Kaling’s writing reflects today’s ideas of feminism. In a full-circle way, Legally Blonde 3 is an opportunity for both Reese Witherspoon and her beloved Elle Woods to show audiences how they’ve grown over the last two decades.

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