Reese Witherspoon is in talks to return for a third film in the “Legally Blonde” franchise, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.
Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah, who adapted the novel by Amanda Brown for the first film, are in final talks to write the script for MGM. Marc Platt and his Platt Productions president, Adam Siegel, are producing alongside Witherspoon through her Hello Sunshine banner.
MGM is still looking for a director. Robert Luketic directed the 2001 film, while Charles Herman-Wurmfeld directed the sequel in 2003. The plot for the third film is being kept under wraps.
“Legally Blonde” grossed $141 million worldwide, while its follow-up secured $124 million at the global box office. The first film followed Elle Woods as she went to Harvard Law School after she was dumped by her boyfriend. In the sequel, Elle headed to Washington D.C. to join the staff of a congresswoman in hopes of passing a bill to ban animal testing.
In 2015, the actress said the timing is right for a third film because “we’re talking about women in politics and how important that is to get more women. And I think it’d be kind of a cool thing to have her be a Supreme Court justice or someone who runs for office.”
Witherspoon most recently starred in “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Home Again” and will next appear on the second season of “Big Little Lies,” which she also executive produces.
Witherspoon is represented by CAA and LBI Entertainment, while Smith is represented by Verve and McCullah is represented by Jaret Entertainment.
Deadline first reported the news.