Update!

Reese Witherspoon Confirms Legally Blonde 3 Is Happening

The first films, released in 2001 and 2003, earned over $360 million at the box office

By Zach Johnson Jun 07, 2018 12:25 PMTags
Funny Gals, Funniest Moments, Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde 2Moviestore/Shutterstock

UPDATE: Reese Witherspoon confirmed Legally Blonde 3 is a go Thursday, writing on Instagram, "It's true...#LegallyBlonde3." The video showed her wearing a sequined pink bikini and floating in the pool, just as Elle Woods did in her Harvard audition video in the first film.

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Reese Witherspoon is in talks to reprise her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 3, E! News has confirmed. Deadline, which broke the news, said MGM is also in negotiations with the actress to produce the film, through her Hello Sunshine banner, alongside Marc Platt and Adam Siegel. Additionally, the outlet reported Karen McCullah and Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith, who adapted the Amanda Brown novel for the original film, are in final talks to write the script for the threequel.

For years, Witherspoon has been toying with the idea of returning to the franchise—but it was still too early in the process to commit to the project. As she explained to E! News in 2015, "We don't have any plans for that movie. Ask MGM. I don't know. They had an idea. I don't know." A few months later, she told Rachel Zoe, "A lot of writers over the years have come up with different ideas for it. I actually think it's kind of great right now, because we're talking about women in politics and how important that is to get more women. I think it'd be kind of a cool thing to have her be a Supreme Court justice or someone who runs for office—like president!" And during a joint appearance on The Late Late Show that year, two of Witherspoon's co-stars—Mary Lynn Rajskub and Luke Wilson—put their support behind making a third movie.

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During a Facebook Live Q&A in 2016, Witherspoon shared some memories of making the movie. "I loved making Legally Blonde because I love pink! It was really fun! I got to wear all of the amazing costumes. I also got to work with a dog every day. I'm obsessed with dogs. I love dogs!" Months later, Witherspoon had apparently warmed up to the idea, telling E! News, "We've thought about it. I need somebody really clever to come up with a great idea and we'll do it. I do think it's a good time to do it—I think women need that kind of positivity right now."

Legally Blonde grossed $141 million worldwide on an $18 million budget. The sequel, titled Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, was released in 2003 and grossed $124 million on a $45 million budget. Witherspoon also produced a direct-to-video sequel, Legally Blondes, in 2009. However, she decided not to star in the film and instead cast British twins to play Elle's cousins.

Witherspoon is currently shooting the second season of HBO's Big Little Lies.

(Originally published on Monday, June 4, 2018, at 10:40 a.m. PDT.)