We have no objections to James Van Der Beek’s newest role, Your Honor!

On Thursday, May 15, the 48-year-old actor confirmed that he has been cast in a recurring guest role in the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series, Elle.

Van Der Beek took to Instagram to share screenshots of a Deadline article, which named his character as Dean Wilson, “the city’s new Mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent.”

“So, this is exciting… I’m going back to work for a bit,” he wrote. “Super excited to join this awesome cast in such a fun project. Almost as excited as my wife and girls are that I’m doing this 😍 #LegallyBlond #Elle”

His wife Kimberly, with whom he shares six children, proved just how overjoyed she was to see her husband join the Legally Blonde universe. “Annabel and I NEEDED this!” she commented.

Fans also took to the comments to congratulate Van Der Beek, with one user writing: “One of favorite actors in the prequel to one of my favorite movies?? Yes please!! ❤️”

“We want much more of the Beek 🙌❤️” another declared.

Others seemed to take the news as a sign that the Dawson’s Creek star was doing better amid his cancer journey.

“So glad you’re feeling good enough to go to work,” someone said. “This is so exciting.”

In November, Van Der Beek exclusively revealed to PEOPLE that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and was undergoing treatment. At the time, he said he was prioritizing his family and continuing to work when he could.

“There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,” he noted, although he has kept the status of his health mostly private in recent months.

In May 2024, Prime Video greenlit Elle from Reese Witherspoon’s media company Hello Sunshine. Witherspoon, who is also executive producing the spinoff, originally played Elle Woods, a headstrong Harvard Law student, in the iconic Legally Blonde movies in the early 2000s.

“Fans will get to know how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager with her distinct personality and ingenuity, in ways that only our beloved Elle could do,” she said in a statement at the time.

Then, in February, she revealed that she had officially found the person to play her mini-me. A video posted to Instagram captured the moment she offered actress Lexi Minetree the role.

“Your audition tape was amazing, as we talked about,” Witherspoon told Minetree as footage of her recreating Elle Woods’ Harvard submission video played on the screen. “We had to make a really hard decision the other day and we wanted to tell you in person because you just worked really hard.” 

The Oscar winner faked Minetree out with her serious expression before breaking the good news: “We just wanted to tell you that you don’t have to audition anymore because you got the part. You’re Elle Woods!”

“Really? Can I hug you please?” Minetree, who was appropriately clad in a bright pink blouse and pink heels for the moment, asked Witherspoon before the two embraced in tears. 

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In addition to Van Der Beek and Minetree, the cast also includes June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Gabrielle Policano, Jacob Moskovitz, Chandler Kinney and Zac Looker as series regulars and Jessica Belkin, Logan Shroyer, Amy Pietz, Matt Ober, Chloe Wepper, David Burtka, Brad Harde, Kayla Maisonet and Lisa Yamada as recurring guests.