Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s media company, is experiencing a landmark summer with the simultaneous release of two highly anticipated series, "Elle" on Amazon Prime Video and "Lucky" on Apple TV+. These back-to-back premieres, separated by just two weeks, underscore a period of significant growth and creative momentum for the company, which is approaching its 10th anniversary this fall. Lauren Neustadter, President and Head of TV and Film at Hello Sunshine, spoke with Variety about the company’s strategic vision, its commitment to empowering women in media, and the extensive slate of upcoming projects, including the highly anticipated third season of HBO’s "Big Little Lies."
The dual premieres mark a significant milestone for Hello Sunshine, a company founded with the explicit mission to create opportunities for women both in front of and behind the camera. "At the very beginning, a part of the mission was to create opportunities for women to shine, and creating opportunities for them to shine in front of the camera, behind the camera, as members of our team," Neustadter explained. "It was all equally important to us, and it was really a core part of the mission of Hello Sunshine when we talked about, ‘What do we want this company to be?’ Whether it’s scripts or books, whether it’s as directors, whether it’s as heads of department on our production." This foundational principle has guided the company’s development, fostering a culture that prioritizes collaboration and diverse voices.
The strategic pairing of "Elle," a prequel series to the beloved "Legally Blonde" franchise, and "Lucky," an action-packed miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy, highlights Hello Sunshine’s versatility and its ability to cater to a wide range of audiences and genres. "Elle," premiering in July, revisits the formative years of Elle Woods, a character who has become an icon of female empowerment. "Lucky," also debuting in July, offers a starkly different, yet equally compelling, narrative with its high-stakes thriller elements. Both projects were produced under the Hello Sunshine banner, a testament to the company’s expanding production capabilities and its success in securing partnerships with major streaming platforms.
A Decade of Storytelling: From "Daisy Jones" to "Big Little Lies"
Hello Sunshine’s impressive trajectory has seen the company produce critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects such as "Daisy Jones & the Six" and the film adaptation of "Where the Crawdads Sing." The current summer releases are the culmination of nearly a decade of dedicated work by Witherspoon and Neustadter, who have meticulously built a robust production pipeline. Looking ahead, the company’s slate continues to impress with the confirmed third season of HBO’s "Big Little Lies," the Sony Pictures film "The Nightingale" starring Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, and the second season of "Elle," which has already completed filming and is slated for a 2027 release.
The upcoming "Big Little Lies" Season 3 holds particular significance, not only as a continuation of a fan-favorite series but also as a testament to the enduring appeal of its complex female characters and narrative. Neustadter clarified the production history of the series, noting, "The reality is, Hello Sunshine didn’t exist when the first season of ‘Big Little Lies’ was made. That was Reese and Bruna [Papandrea] and Pacific Standard and David E. Kelley, and they did the most amazing job ever. And we were privileged to be invited in for the second season, and also for the third." This collaborative approach, extending from the show’s inception, underscores the commitment to maintaining the integrity and quality that defined its initial success.
Season 3 of "Big Little Lies" will draw inspiration from Liane Moriarty’s forthcoming sequel novel, "Big Little Truths," promising new narrative threads and character developments. The return of the core cast, including Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and Laura Dern, further solidifies the show’s anticipated impact. Neustadter expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "HBO is the most amazing partner alongside this incredible producing team, and I think we all care so much about every single one of these amazing characters. So just being in the conversation and thinking about what this next chapter looks like for these extraordinary women in Monterey, it’s a privilege. But it is truly, truly a team effort and I know Season 3 is going to be incredible."
A Strategic Approach to Partnership and Talent
Neustadter emphasized Hello Sunshine’s "partner-focused strategy," which involves identifying and collaborating with individuals who possess a deep understanding and passion for the material. This approach has been instrumental in the successful execution of projects like "The Morning Show" and "Little Fires Everywhere." For "Lucky" and "Elle," the company enlisted talents like showrunner Jonathan Tropper, known for his adeptness in crafting compelling narratives, and showrunners Laura Kittrell and Caroline Dries, who brought their unique visions to the "Elle" series.
This meticulous selection process has not only ensured the quality of Hello Sunshine’s output but has also positioned the company for future ambitious endeavors. The success of this model is evident in the company’s consistent ability to attract top-tier talent and secure lucrative deals with major distribution partners, a trend that is expected to continue with upcoming projects.
Navigating Genre and Audience Expectations
The development of "Lucky" presented a new challenge for Hello Sunshine, requiring expertise in action-heavy storytelling. Neustadter described the process of working with Jonathan Tropper as a crucial element in bringing the book’s vision to the screen. "We always love to stretch. We always love to go into an area that we haven’t been in before, and explore, and be curious, and bring these characters to life, but also team up with people who have very specific superpowers," she stated. "So Jonathan Tropper was that person. He’s a person that we admired greatly, both as a screenwriter and as an author. He can do this full-throttle action in a way that, quite frankly, was new to us." The goal was to balance the adrenaline-pumping sequences with the emotional core of the character, ensuring that the adaptation remained true to the spirit of the source material, which had not yet been published at the time of production.
The response to "Elle" from existing "Legally Blonde" fans has been overwhelmingly positive, fulfilling Neustadter’s hopes for the series. "It’s everything that I hoped for," she shared. "I feel like women are just coming up to me and saying thank you for making a joyful show." Witherspoon’s original intention for "Legally Blonde" was to provide a positive and empowering message for young women, a sentiment that "Elle" aims to recapture and amplify. The series has resonated with audiences by reminding them of their inherent worth and capabilities, with characters like Elle and her mother, Eva, embodying self-acceptance and resilience. The character of Eva, in particular, has been lauded as a relatable representation of women navigating midlife challenges.
The decision to greenlight and film the second season of "Elle" before the first season’s premiere was a strategic move driven by a confluence of factors, including production logistics and the creative team’s confidence in the project. "We wrapped Season 2 before we had our press and premiere around Season 1," Neustadter explained. "And a lot of that, to be very honest with you, had to do with weather, because one of the things that was challenging was there was a lot of sunshine in Season 1, and we needed to calibrate that with visual effects. And we were really trying to feel Seattle." This proactive approach demonstrates Amazon’s strong belief in the series and its potential, allowing Hello Sunshine to maintain creative momentum and deliver a cohesive narrative arc for Elle’s junior year.
Balancing a Busy Slate with Vision and Trust
The sheer volume of projects underway at Hello Sunshine necessitates a highly organized and collaborative operational structure. Neustadter attributes the company’s ability to manage its extensive workload to a shared passion for storytelling and an exceptional team. "We love to be busy. It’s something that we have in common, and also we just have the most amazing team," she said. Witherspoon’s leadership style is characterized by her intentionality in hiring talented individuals and her trust in their abilities. "She is very intentional about hiring people who are excellent at what they do, and then trusting them to do their jobs," Neustadter noted.
While Witherspoon is deeply involved in all aspects of the company’s creative process, from reading books and scripts to reviewing cuts, Neustadter acts as a key operational partner, ensuring smooth execution and effective communication. This symbiotic relationship allows Hello Sunshine to navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry with agility and grace. "Particularly, in a moment like this, she’s starring in ‘The Morning Show,’ and we’re launching two shows, and we’re optioning a new book that we’re so excited about. We are trying to juggle all of these things elegantly," Neustadter added. The company’s success is built on a foundation of trust, talent, and a shared commitment to bringing compelling stories to life, celebrating the accomplishments of the past decade and looking forward to an equally dynamic future. The consistent expansion of their library and the strategic partnerships forged solidify Hello Sunshine’s position as a leading force in contemporary media production.
