Amazon Primes Elle Prequel Renewed Before Debut; Other Entertainment Updates on True Detective, The Rainmaker, and Classic Films
Amazon Prime Video surprised the industry by announcing that its new pre‑quel series Elle would receive a second season before the first season even aired. The decision follows the show’s development by Laura Kittrell and the involvement of Reese Witherspoon, who revealed that the concept sparked after she watched Wednesday. The series, which follows teenage Elle Woods played by Lexi Minetree, began production in April 2025 and premiered on July 1 2026. In January 2026, Prime Video renewed the series for a second season, a move that caught many observers off‑guard because the renewal came ahead of the first season’s release.
HBO has confirmed a fifth season of True Detective, slated to take place in New York and scheduled for 2027. The anthology series has run four seasons so far, in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2024, and has featured a rotating cast that has included Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Mahershala Ali and Jodie Foster. Creator Nic Pizzolatto has said that actor Nicolas Cage is in talks to join the new season, although no casting decision has been finalized.
USA Network has ordered a second season of The Rainmaker, the drama based on John Grisham’s novel of the same name. The series stars Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor, the young lawyer who was the protagonist in the 1997 film adaptation starring Matt Damon. The network’s order means the show will continue to air later this year.
The 1955 Spanish film Miracle of Marcelino (also released as Marcelino, pan y vino) remains available for viewers. The movie, which tells the story of an orphan raised by monks who befriends a wooden crucifix, can be streamed for free on Tubi and YouTube. It is also sold on DVD and Blu‑ray, with both formats available through Amazon.
The 1974 blaxploitation film Three Tough Guys—sometimes titled Tough Guys—stars Isaac Hayes, Lino Ventura and Fred Williamson. A DVD edition of the film can be purchased on Amazon, though customer reviews note that the video and sound quality are not optimal. Copies are also listed on eBay, but the authenticity and quality of those releases are not guaranteed.
In summary, Amazon Prime Video’s early renewal of Elle signals confidence in the new Legally Blonde pre‑quel, while HBO’s upcoming True Detective season and USA Network’s The Rainmaker order indicate continued investment in established drama franchises. Classic titles such as Miracle of Marcelino and Three Tough Guys remain accessible through modern streaming and physical media channels, giving audiences multiple ways to explore both contemporary and older entertainment offerings.
