Reese Witherspoon Just Announced The Search For The Teen Elle Woods Is On, And Legally Blonde Fans Are Saying The Same Thing

Reese Witherspoon stands in court with a look of revelation in Legally Blonde.
(Image credit: MGM)

I know the search for the high school Elle Words just began, however, it also might be over if fans have their way. After Reese Witherspoon announced that they are officially searching for a young actor to play Elle in the Prime Video prequel about the iconic Legally Blonde character, the actress’s fans quickly took to her comments to point out that the perfect person for the part might be related to her.

Taking to Instagram to announce the news about the Legally Blonde prequel Elle, Reese Witherspoon explained that the casting call is “open,” meaning that anyone can audition. In the video, which you can see below, her excitement was palpable, and I could tell that she truly can’t wait to find the young actress who will play the high school version of her iconic lawyer.

However, the fans have someone else in mind for this prequel to one of the best movies of the 2000s. Considering the actress who led the Legally Blonde cast has a daughter in her 20s, Ava Phillippe, many took to the comments of Witherspoon’s post to exclaim that Ava would be a great fit for the role, take a look:

  • Just give your daughter that role. She’s your younger version 😬 -pperezg
  • I do think the people have a point. Ava would be insane. Just saying. ❤️ -ammygriffin
  • Yes!! Your daughter -brendaannb
  • why not just cast your daughter? the only time nepotism is acceptable 😂 -erinhatcherley
  • YOUR DAUGHTER 😍 -themarysarge
  • I mean … I feel like it has to be your daughter!!! -rootsandwingswellness

Now, notably, Ava Phillippe is 25 years old and not an actress (she's a model), but that’s perfectly fine. The casting call is open, people between the ages of 20 and 30 commonly play high schoolers, and both her parents -- Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe -- are actors. So, it seems like a natural fit, and I have to say that I’m in agreement with these comments.

To add more proof as to why she’s the perfect fit, there’s constantly online discourse about how much Ava and Reese look alike.

The actress and her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe don’t agree on which parent their daughter looks more like (Phillippe is convinced she is his mini-me). However, she 100% resembles both her parents to me, especially once you see her side-by-side with them, which you can see below:

Basically, I think she could easily pull off the pink and play Elle Woods. However, only time will tell as we don’t know if Ava Phillippe even wants to step into her mom’s shoes literally and figuratively to play this iconic character.

As we learn more about the casting of young Elle Woods and the Legally Blonde prequel series in general, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. In the meantime, make sure you check out the 2024 TV schedule to see what other exciting projects are coming out soon, and if you are looking to go to Harvard with Reese Witherspoon, you can stream Legally Blonde with a Max subscription.

Riley Utley
Weekend Editor

Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows Ted Lasso and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to Fire Country, and she's enjoyed every second of it.