Legally Blonde (franchise)

The Legally Blonde franchise 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, a blonde California University of Los Angeles sorority president, who enrolls in law school.[1]

Legally Blonde
Official franchise logo
Created byAmanda Brown
Original workLegally Blonde
by Amanda Brown
Owned byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
Print publications
Novel(s)See details
Films and television
Film(s)See detailed list
Television seriesSee details

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 University of Southern California 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.

Film

Film U.S.
release date
Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producers
Legally Blonde July 13, 2001 (2001-07-13) Robert Luketic Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith Marc Platt and Ric Kidney
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde July 2, 2003 (2003-07-02) Charles Herman-Wurmfeld Kate Kondell Eve Ahlert & Dennis Drake
and Kate Kondell
Marc Platt, David Nicksay, Jennifer Simpson and Stephen Traxler
Legally Blondes April 28, 2009 (2009-04-28) 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 3 May 2022 (2022-05) Jamie Suk Karen McCullah & Kirsten Smith
and Mindy Kaling & Dan Goor
Karen McCullah & Kirsten Smith Marc Platt, Adam Siegel and 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 White House 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 Republican politician 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 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 move to California to live in her home. The pair learn that they will be attended the Pacific Preparatory School, they upset the dominant social set of their fashion tastes and personalities.[5]

Legally Blonde 3 (2022)

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.[6] MGM later confirmed in a Twitter post that Legally Blonde 3 is set to be released on May 8, 2020.[7] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film has been delayed. In May 2020, it was announced that Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor would write an entirely new script for the film.[8] In October 2020, MGM Studios has confirmed via their official social media that Legally Blonde 3 will come May 2022.[9]

Television

Films

Film U.S.
release date
Director(s) Screenwriter Producers
Legally Blonde 2003 Charles Herman-Wurmfeld Rachel Sweet Marc Platt, Rachel Sweet and John Whitman
Legally Blonde: The Musical October 13, 2007 (2007-10-13) Beth McCarthy-Miller & Jerry Mitchell Heather Hach Marta Ravin
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.[10][11][12]

Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007)

A made-for-television musical adaptation, based jointly on the original novel and the film series, was released 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.

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

Film Box office gross Box office ranking Budget Worldwide
Total income
Ref.
North America Other territories Worldwide All-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 $123,809,235 [20][21]
Legally Blondes N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A information not available information not available [22]
Legally Blonde 3 TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

Critical response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic Cinemascore
Legally Blonde 70% (145 reviews)[23] 59 (32 reviews)[24] A-[25]
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde 37% (156 reviews)[26] 47 (39 reviews)[27] B[25]
Legally Blondes N/A (2 reviews)[28] N/A N/A
Legally Blonde 3 TBA TBA TBA

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. https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/legally-blonde-3-1200469201/
  4. https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/legally-blonde-2-red-white-blonde-1200540749/
  5. https://www.radiotimes.com/film/cxxf2x/
  6. McNary, Dave (June 4, 2018). "Reese Witherspoon in Talks to Return for 'Legally Blonde 3'". Variety. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  7. Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2019). "'Morbius' & 'Ghostbusters' Solidify Summer 2020 Release Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  8. 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.
  9. "Elle Woods is back! Legally Blonde 3 coming May 2022. We rest our case". MGM Studios official Twitter. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  10. "Legally Blonde (TV Movie 2003)". IMDb.
  11. Failed and Unaired Pilots Tv (March 9, 2017). "Legally Blonde 2003Unsold Pilot". YouTube.
  12. Anna Green (April 4, 2016). "10 Strange and Amazing TV Pilots the Networks Passed On". mental_floss.
  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. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Legally-Blonde#tab=summary
  19. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl861832705/weekend/
  20. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Legally-Blonde-2-Red-White-and-Blonde#tab=summary
  21. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl878609921/
  22. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Legally-Blondes#tab=summary
  23. "Legally Blonde (2001)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  24. "Legally Blonde". Metacritic. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  25. "LEGALLY BLONDE (2001) A-". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
  26. "Legally Blonde 2 – Red, White & Blonde". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  27. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde". Metacritic. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  28. "Legally Blondes (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
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