Reese Witherspoon gives Jennifer Coolidge 'her flowers,' says 'Legally Blonde 3' couldn't happen without her

• Reese Witherspoon sang "Legally Blonde" costar Jennifer Coolidge's praises to Entertainment Tonight Thursday.
• Witherspoon told the outlet that "Legally Blonde 3" couldn't happen without Coolidge.

"Legally Blonde" star Reese Witherspoon gushed about former costar Jennifer Coolidge to Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, telling the outlet that Coolidge would have to return in order to make "Legally Blonde 3."

"There is no 'Legally Blonde 3' without Jennifer Coolidge," Witherspoon told the outlet.

The 2001 comedy stars Witherspoon as Elle Woods, a fashionista turned Harvard law student. Coolidge plays Paulette Bonafonté, a manicurist who befriends Elle on her journey through law school.

"I'm beyond myself about Jennifer Coolidge," Witherspoon continued. "She deserves every one of those flowers she is receiving right now."

In May 2020, Deadline reported the third installment of the franchise was greenlit with Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor set to co-write. The film will star Witherspoon reprising the role of Elle, but Coolidge told Entertainment Tonight in October 2022 that she hadn't heard anything about the highly anticipated "Legally Blonde 3."

"I know nothing, I mean I don't know if they wanted to surprise me or something, 'cause I hear about it a lot," Coolidge told the outlet. "I heard that Mindy has this amazing version of our next round, but I haven't seen it. I don't have the call yet."

In April 2022, Kaling told Entertainment Tonight that Coolidge would "1,000 percent" return for the movie. Kaling expressed excitement over getting to work closely with the "White Lotus" star.

"[She] is just someone who all writers would kill to write for," Kaling said. "She is so funny. She elevates any material and she is just like ... She can just do a glance, it is just hilarious."