In case you missed it, James Van Der Beek just publicly committed to starring in our thrilling new prequel series “Elle”. It’s scheduled to premiere on Prime Video next summer! The 48-year-old actor will be rounding out a highly-touted cast. This incredible cast includes Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney and Zac Looker.
This dramatic news comes only a few months after Van Der Beek shared that he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer last December. He got the diagnosis in August 2023, and since then has been prioritizing treatment and taking care of his health first. Even with these complications, it was clear how thrilled he was to be coming back to work, as he shared in this emotional post on Instagram.
“So, this is exciting… I’m going back to work for a bit,” – James Van Der Beek
When announcing about the cancer diagnosis, Van Der Beek shared his surprise at first. In sharing about the situation that brought him this life-changing news, he emphasized the importance of health screenings, stating, “I was honestly in shock. I was doing what I thought I needed to do by getting a colonoscopy, which obviously, I did need to do.”
Van Der Beek reflected on his health leading up to the diagnosis, saying, “I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I was eating what I thought was healthy.” The actor had an even bolder plan for the next 12 months. Now, his health concerns have turned everything on its head.
Elle’ will reimagine Elle Woods as a teen, providing fans with an exciting look into Elle’s teenage experiences and what made her an icon. Reese Witherspoon, who starred as Elle Woods in the first film, is executive producing the series. Her creativity and commitment provide an exciting energy and vision to the project. Laura Kittrell and Caroline Dries will co-showrun and executive produce the show together with Witherspoon.
The fresh opportunity has returned Van Der Beek to the small screen in a big way. He is confronting this, the toughest time of his life, with incredible bravery and resolution. He’s pictured here on May 14, 2025, when he was in Hollywood for the premiere of the Prime Video series “Overcompensating.” That moment proved his resolve and commitment to his craft.
