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Today, Prime Video announced a major development in the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series. The streamer revealed through Deadline that none other than '90s heartthrob James Van Der Beek has joined the cast in a recurring role. The Dawson's Creek and Apartment 23 star will share the screen with the new Elle Woods (Lexi Minetree), but at this point we don't know in how many episodes he will participate. A release date for Elle is yet to be announced.

Per Deadline, Van Der Beek will play the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent, Dean Wilson. Since the new series covers Elle Woods' high school years, this may suggest that Dean Wilson and the young girl will go head-to-head on different occasions. In the movie series, Elle became known for not catering to people in positions of power, so the series might show how the future lawyer developed her backbone.

James Van Der Beek is set to recur in Elle, the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series for Prime Video that stars Lexi Minetree in the title role.

The Dawson’s Creek star will recur as the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent Dean Wilson.

Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows Elle Woods in high school as viewers learn about the life experiences that shaped her. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

Previously announced castmembers include June Diane Raphael (Elle’s mom Eva), and Tom Everett Scott (Elle’s dad Wyatt), Gabrielle Policano (Liz), Jacob Moskovitz (Miles), Chandler Kinney (Kimberly), and Zac Looker (Dustin), and recurring roles Jessica Belkin (Madison), Logan Shroyer (Josh), Amy Pietz (Donna), Matt Ober...

The Bold and The Beautiful spoilers and updates reveal Lisa Yamada has snagged a new role, but will it leave fans without Luna Nozawa?

The highly sought-after actress has landed a role in Prime Video’s prequel series to Legally Blonde, titled ‘Elle’, as initially reported by Deadline.

Lisa Yamada Will Play A Recurring Role As Amber, A Friend Of Elle Woods

The upcoming comedy features Lexi Minetree taking on the iconic role originally portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in both the film and Broadway adaptation. It showcases Elle’s journey through high school as she aspires to become a law student.

Yamada will play the role of Amber, a member of Elle’s group in Bel Air, bringing a fresh dynamic as this actress gets the chance to portray a character with friends again.

Lisa is among the five talented performers selected for recurring roles in the highly anticipated prequel series,...

Get ready to bend and snap because Prime Video has officially announced a Summer 2026 release window for its upcoming Legally Blondeprequel series Elle, which stars Lexi Minetree as the teenage version of Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods, long before she became a Harvard law student to win back her ex-boyfriend. The announcement was made during Prime Video's upfront presentation at New York's Beacon Theatre, an event that saw Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis have a surprise True Liesreunion.

Witherspoon shared a post online to coincide with the release announcement for Prime Video's Elle. The Legally Blonde actress posted a photo on Instagram (seen below), offering a further glimpse of Minetree in the show's titular role following a first-look tease in April. "I'm so thrilled to introduce Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods. The new star of our TV show Elle!" Witherspoon excitedly wrote in the caption, adding, "She is stepping...

Elle, Prime Video‘s upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, starring Lexi Minetree in the titular role, will launch in summer 2026 on the streamer.

The series hails from the film franchise’s star Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine banner, part of Candle Media.

Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows Elle Woods (Minetree) in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

June Diane Raphael (Elle’s mom Eva), and Tom Everett Scott (Elle’s dad Wyatt), Gabrielle Policano (Liz), Jacob Moskovitz (Miles), and Chandler Kinney (Kimberly) and Zac Looker (Dustin). Logan Shroyer (Josh), Amy Pietz,...

Great news! Amazon Prime Video's Elle, the Legally Blonde prequel series, started production on April 2, with a the cast spotted filming a scene in Beverly Hills on May 1. There's finally exciting updates to share for the highly anticipated series from Reese Witherspoon.

The coming-of-age series was filming Elle and her high school friends as they walked down Rodeo Drive. A short clip was posted on Spill Sesh TikTok the following day. On May 9, Variety reported that the series had cast five new actors to join the Woods family and high school student casting.

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Elle drops an exciting filming update

The Elle production was spotted filming on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on May 1. This was the viewers' first glimpse of Elle Woods and her three best friends Madison, Tiffany, and Amber. The behind-the-scenes photo that E! News published...

Amazon Prime Video’s “Legally Blonde” prequel series has added five recurring guest stars, Variety has learned.

Chloe Wepper, David Burtka, Brad Harder, Kayla Maisonet, and Lisa Yamada have all joined the upcoming prequel.

As previously announced, the show will follow Elle Woods during her high school years. Lexi Minetree stars as Elle. Additional cast members include: June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney, Zac Looker, Jessica Belkin, Logan Shroyer, and Amy Pietz.

Wepper has been cast as Elle’s chemistry teacher and high school cheer team choreographer Ms. Burke. Burtka has been cast as Elle’s neighbor, Chad, while Harder has been cast as Chad’s husband, Charlie. Maisonet and Yamada will play Tiffany and Amber respectively, friends in Elle’s Bel Aire high school circle.

Wepper is repped by Ope Partners. Burtka is repped by Innovative Artists. Harder is repped by Play Management Inc.

Lisa Yamada (The Bold and the Beautiful), Chloe Wepper (The Rookie), David Burtka (How I Met Your Mother), Brad Harder (Supernatural) and Kayla Maisonet (The Rookie) are set for key recurring roles in Elle, Prime Video’s upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, starring Lexi Minetree as Elle. The series hails from the film franchise’s star Reese Witherspoon and her Hello Sunshine banner, part of Candle Media.

Created by Laura Kittrell, Elle follows Elle Woods (Minetree) in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first Legally Blonde film. The series is set years before the events in the first movie, which kicked off as Elle Woods (Witherspoon) graduated from college and headed to Harvard Law to pursue a legal career.

Wepper portrays Ms. Burke, Elle’s chemistry teacher and...

Photo: Andrew Walker, Ashley Williams

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister Foster

Ashley Wiliams and Andrew Walker star in a new, original holiday movie, Jingle Bell Run on Hallmark Channel. The movie tells the tale of a bookworm, paired up with a retired hockey player for a holiday race across the country.

Jingle Bell Run on Hallmark Channel Photo: Ashley Williams

Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister Foster

Airing as part of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas, Jingle Bell Run stars Ashley Williams and Andrew Walker. It tells the story of Avery (Ashley Williams), a self-described bookworm and teacher. Avery’s sister secretly signs Avery up for an adventure for thrill seekers, known as The Great Holiday Dash.

According to TV Insider, the race is a reality competition themed around Christmas and at first, Avery is reluctant to participate, but eventually, she does. The event requires people to work in teams, which...

Hallmark’s Countdown To Christmas 2024 includes Jingle Bell Run starring Ashley Williams and Andrew Walker. A “self-described bookworm is paired up with a retired hockey player to complete in a holiday race across America.”

Ready for some Christmas shenanigans?

Photo: Andrew Walker, Ashley Williams Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Allister Foster What Is Hallmark’s Jingle Bell Run About?

Hallmark has a holiday race like no other in Jingle Bell Run. Best of all, Ashley Williams and Andrew Walker star in this movie. Here are all the details.

According to TV Insider, Avery is a schoolteacher whose sister thinks she is living a dull life. Although Avery enjoys not being adventurous, her sister secretly signs Avery up for something for thrill seekers. Avery is signed up for The Great Holiday Dash. This is a reality competition with a Christmas theme.

Although Avery is hesitant to participate, she does. Moreover, this event...

Photo: Lea Thompson, Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson, Wendie Malick Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

The next episode of the Hallmark+ series The Chicken Sisters sees things heating up inside and out of the kitchen. Titled, “This is War, Y’all” the episode airs on Thursday, September 19 on the company’s reimagined streaming service, Hallmark+.

The Chicken Sisters on Hallmark+ Newly painted sign at Mimi’s Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

As noted by the press release, the drama heats up in and out of the kitchen in the next episode of The Chicken Sisters, dubbed “This is War, Y’all.” Airing on Thursday, September 19, the episode will see Amanda (Schuyler Fisk) getting madder than a wet hen after Mae (Genevieve Angelson) paints over her artwork on the sign for Mimi’s.

With Frank Jr. (James Kot) egging Amanda on, the two hatch a plan to get back at...

Photo: Wendie Malick, Genevieve Angelson, James Kot, Lea Thompson, Cassandra Sawtell, Schuyler Fisk Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

Adapted from New York Times Bestseller and Reese’s Book Club Selection, The Chicken Sisters by Kj Dell’Antonia, the new series of the same name is coming soon to Hallmark+.

Meanwhile, Emmy award winner Margo Martindale lends her voice talent as the narrator in the series. Read on to learn more about the new, upcoming series, set to premiere on September 10 on Hallmark+.

The Chicken Sisters is coming to Hallmark+ Photo: Genevieve Angelson, Brad Harder Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

According to the official synopsis, a generations-old feud that has divided a small town may finally be settled once and for all when Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson, Lea Thompson and Wendie Malick star in Hallmark’s all-new original series The Chicken Sisters.

Photo: Cassandra Sawtell, Kelcey Mawema Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

Meanwhile,...

E! on Friday confirmed its plans to release the rom-coms Arranged Love, Ms. Match and Platonic this summer. Specific dates weren’t disclosed, though you can now view a teaser for all three films above.

Arranged Love centers on Meera, who after fleeing an arranged marriage as a young woman, leaving India and her inheritance behind, has made a name for herself in the tech world and now runs her own startup. When a costly problem threatens her company, however, marriage is exactly what she needs to solve it. In order to collect her inheritance in India, Meera comes up with a plan to inform her family she is, in fact, married – to the handsome Rama she met only moments ago – and returns home with him to sign the paperwork. As they keep up the ruse, Meera and Rama find themselves developing genuine chemistry, but this new arrangement brings yet another surprise.

The made-for-tv movie was a programming staple for the broadcast networks in the 1970s and 1980s. While it fell out of favor in the 1990s and was even dropped as an Emmy Awards category for three years beginning in 2011, it has been on an upswing as of late. This year, 48 telefilms are in contention for the five nominations that will be revealed on July 12; last year, only 41 TV movies were submitted.

All 22,000 plus voting members of the TV academy have until June 27 to cast their 2022 Emmy Awards nominations ballots for their favorite TV movies. In the past, voters were limited in the number of telefilms that they could put forth. In 2017, that cap (which was usually 10 per category) was lifted. And, as opposed to the Oscars, voters for the Emmys do not rank their choices and nominees are determined by a simple tally.

See 2022 Emmy nominations ballot: 2,800 performers vie for...

The countdown to Hallmark Channel’s 12th annual “Countdown to Christmas” slate has begun. On Wednesday, Crown Media Family Networks revealed the first half of its holiday-tv movie schedule, which includes sequels to last year’s LGBTQ-inclusive “The Christmas House” and 2014’s “The Nine Lives of Christmas,” as well as films featuring on-screen reunions between “Back to the Future” stars, “Wonder Years” alums and “Fuller House” cast members.

With 41 titles coming in 2021 across the Hallmark Channel, sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and streaming platform Hallmark Movies Now — the largest slate of Christmas movies Crown Media has ever put out — the Hallmark parent company is only unveiling a portion of the premiere dates today. But don’t worry, there will be more to unwrap in the weeks to come.

The Hallmark holiday season begins Friday, Oct. 22 with the first movie up, “You, Me & The Christmas Trees” on Hallmark Channel, a “Countdown...

The Hallmark Channel made history with the series finale of "Good Witch" on Sunday, an episode that featured the first kiss between an LGBTQ couple on one of the cable channel's original series.

The smooch in question was shared by Joy (Kat Barrell) and Zoey (Kyana Teresa), who have also been representing as the first LGBTQ couple in a Hallmark show throughout the "Good Witch" run.

Prior to Joy and Zoey's big finale moment, the only other same-sex kiss to occur on Hallmark Channel's original programming was in the holiday movie "The Christmas House," a 2020 film that featured Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder as a gay married couple who lock lips during the movie.

But as "The Christmas House" is a movie and the "Good Witch" is a series, the Catherine Bell and James Denton-led show has the title of first Hallmark Channel original series to depict an LGBTQ couple kissing.

Something magical (and longggg overdue) occurred on Hallmark Channel this Sunday night.

During Good Witch‘s series finale, Joy (played by Wynonna Earp‘s Kat Barrell) and Zoey (played by Shadowhunters‘ Kyana Teresa) shared the first-ever kiss between an LGBTQ couple on a Hallmark Channel original series. (In fact, #TeamJoey also represented the first LGBTQ couple featured in a Hallmark series.)

More from TVLineGood Witch Series Finale Recap: Did the Merriwicks Maintain Their Magic? And Which Couple Called It Quits?The TVLine-Up: What's Returning, New and Leaving the Week of July 25Good Witch Series Finale Sneak Peek: Are the Merriwick...

The made-for-tv movie was a programming staple for the broadcast networks in the 1970s and 1980s. While it fell out of favor in the 1990s and was even dropped as an Emmy Awards category for three years beginning in 2011, it has been on an upswing as of late. This year, 41 telefilms are in contention for the five nominations that will be revealed on July 13; last year only 28 TV movies were submitted.

All 22,000 plus voting members of the TV academy have until June 28 to cast their 2021 Emmy Awards nominations ballots for their favorite TV movies. In the past, voters were limited in the number of telefilms that they could put forth. In 2017 that cap (which was usually 10 per category) was lifted. And, as opposed to the Oscars, voters for the Emmys do not rank their choices and nominees are determined by a simple tally.

See 2021 Emmy nominations ballot: 1,865 performers vie for...

The 2020 holiday season marked the first time Hallmark has included LGBTQ characters and storylines in their seasonal movies in a prominent way with “The Christmas House,” featuring Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder as a gay couple looking to adopt.

But they were part of an ensemble cast.

On Thursday, Hallmark Channel executives were asked repeatedly by reporters during a virtual panel at the Television Critics Association press tour to give detailed answers about how the cable channel plans to expand on its representation in the coming season, including if the channel will have its first same-sex couple as the leads of a Christmas movie. And their answers were not direct enough for the journalists’ liking, who continued to pose questions on the topic during the 30-minute Q&a.

“When I think about the Hallmark brand, it is inclusive, and all you have to do is walk in a Hallmark store...

This year marks the first season in which Lifetime and Hallmark are including LGBTQ characters and storylines in their holiday movies in a prominent way: Hallmark with “The Christmas House,” featuring Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder as a gay couple looking to adopt, and Lifetime has “The Christmas Setup,” the channel’s first-ever movie starring gay leads, played by married-in-real-life couple Ben Lewis and Blake Lee. While Lifetime’s movie is a bigger stride, as it features a gay couple as the leads rather than part of an ensemble, both projects mark significant turning points for the holiday-tv-movie landscape, which has seen a lack of LGBTQ representation in years past. So why did the cable channels decide 2020 was the year to make a change — even though each is still devoting a large portion of its slate to heterosexual-centric romances? Also Read: 'Princess Switch 2': Did You Spot the 'A Christmas Prince' Cameo?...

While the Hallmark Channel is known for its star-studded holiday lineup, until recently, it's also been known for its lack of diversity, particularly when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Hallmark has made great strides in becoming a more accurate representation of the real world, with the network's upcoming film The Christmas House being a prime example. The movie, which premieres on Nov. 22, is the first time the channel has made a same-sex couple the main characters in a Christmas film. The story follows Brandon Mitchell and his husband, Jake, as they head to Brandon's family home for Christmas and eagerly await adoption news at the same time. Jonathan Bennett, who plays Brandon, spoke to Popsugar about being part of Hallmark's progress, what the movie means to him, some of his favorite on-set memories, and what he hopes audiences take away from the film.

"I think of all the young Jonathans out there,...

Hallmark Channel is getting us in the holiday spirit a little early this year. On Sept. 23, the network unveiled its full movie lineup for the upcoming season, and it's stacked. Just like last year, Hallmark will release 40 original films as part of Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' "Miracles of Christmas." While Hallmark alums like Lacey Chabert and Tamera Mowry-Housley will star in a few films, a few stars will be making their Hallmark debut, including Aaron Tveit, Janel Parrish, Jeremy Jordan, and Marisol Nichols. Read ahead for the full schedule, as well as who is starring.

Related: 10 Hallmark Christmas Movies That Will Make Hopeless Romantics Swoon Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas

Oct. 24, 8 p.m. Et - Jingle Bell Bride: starring Julie Gonzalo and Ronnie Rowe Jr.

Oct. 25, 8 p.m. Et - Chateau Christmas: starring Merritt Patterson and Luke Macfarlane

Oct. 31, 8 p.m. Et - Christmas...