Legally Blonde's Next Elle Woods to Be Cast Via MTV Reality Series

Confirming widespread speculation, MTV announced that it plans to air a reality casting show this spring titled Legally Blonde: The Search for the New Elle Woods. Auditions to find Laura Bell Bundy's replacement in the Broadway production of Legally Blonde will be held in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando and Nashville.

The announcement release did not specify when the new MTV show will air or who will serve as the judges or the host. Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde's director and choreographer, is referred to as "a creative consultant for the series" in the news release. The producers of Legally Blonde recently announced that Bundy and the rest of the musical's original leading players have extended their contracts through late spring at the Palace Theatre.

MTV aired a taped version of the Broadway production in October, which reached more than 12.5 million viewers during its premiere weekend. The reality casting show will be produced by Reveille, producers of The Office, Ugly Betty, American Gladiators, The Biggest Loser, Nashville Star and Date My Mom, among others.

Inspired by the hit MGM film, Legally Blonde follows sorority star Elle Woods, who doesn't take "no" for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. The musical opened on Broadway on April 29, 2007, and was nominated for seven Tony Awards.