More than two decades after its release, ‘Legally Blonde’ continues to hold a special place in popular culture. What could have been just another early 2000s rom com actually turns up to be one of the most beloved feminist movies of all time.
Yet, according to the cast and crew, the ‘Legally Blonde‘ we know and love today was almost a completely different film once.
Original ‘Legally Blonde’ Was Closer To ‘American Pie’ Than Fans Ever Knew
During the celebration of ‘Legally Blonde’s 20th anniversary, the cast and creators behind the movie sat down with The New York Times to discuss the behind-the-scenes details of the movie. One of the most surprising stories that came out was just how “raunchy” the original script was.
“The first script was very raunchy, to be honest, in the vein of ‘American Pie’,” Cauffiel recalled. “What we know now as Legally Blonde and what it began as are two completely different films. It transformed from nonstop zingers that were very adult in nature to this universal story of overcoming adversity by being oneself.”
Related: 10 Small Details In ‘Legally Blonde’ You Totally Missed
That description clearly paints a picture of what the creators initially wanted to do with Legally Blonde. Rather than focusing on Elle’s personal growth, the original script was leaning into the crude humor and rapid-fire adult jokes that were the signature for blockbuster movies in the early 2000s.
Screenwriter Kirsten Smith further confirmed how different the initial concept for the movie was. She explained the project was originally pitched as “’Clueless’ meets ‘The Paper Chase'”. As intriguing as that sounds, we would never trade it for the warm and uplifting version we ultimately got.
Why Changing The Script Was The Best Decision Filmmakers Made
What ultimately sets this movie apart from its contemporaries was its heart. Instead of dramatizing, sensationalizing, or relying on crude humor, the focus was always on Elle Woods’ journey to prove herself. It also took up important topics like female friendship, workplace misogyny, self-confidence, and the “dumb blonde” stereotype.
In Case You Missed It: Original ‘Legally Blonde’ Ending Almost Ruined Elle Woods. Here’s Why
Interestingly, some of these most beloved elements weren’t even a part of the original vision. Screenwriter Karen McCullah explained that the root of transforming the script was in introducing new characters like Paulette.
These small changes and introductions in the film put empathy and love at the heart of this movie. It still manages to be hilarious and uplifting. But that would have never happened if the movie kept relying on raunchiness.
Now, it is difficult to even imagine a different version of ‘Legally Blonde’. But it is fascinating to know how these micro-decisions can always completely reshape a movie. ‘Legally Blonde’ began as just another adult comedy, but it evolved into a feminist classic because of these small but crucial creative choices.
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