Netflix is heading back to the prairie. The streaming giant has officially greenlit a reboot of the beloved 1970s drama Little House on the Prairie, and the search for its new Ingalls family is underway. The series, described as a “reimagining” of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical books, promises to deliver a fresh take on the classic tale of frontier life, with casting now in full swing and production set to kick off this summer.
At the helm of this ambitious adaptation is Rebecca Sonnenshine, the seasoned writer-producer behind hits like The Boys and The Vampire Diaries. Serving as showrunner and executive producer, Sonnenshine brings a deeply personal connection to the project. “I fell deeply in love with these books when I was 5 years old,” she said in a statement. “They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix.” The reboot is being billed as “part-hopeful family drama, part-epic survival tale, and part-origin story of the American West,” offering a “kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”
The series hails from CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studios, with an impressive lineup of executive producers that includes Joy Gorman Wettels of Joy Coalition, Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel, and Trip Friendly of Friendly Family Productions. Trip Friendly carries a special legacy as the son of Ed Friendly, who executive produced the original Little House on the Prairie series that aired on NBC from 1974 to 1983. Production is slated to begin in June and run through October in Winnipeg, Canada, with Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons in Chemistry) tapped to direct.
The reboot’s casting call is already generating buzz, with an open audition announced for the pivotal role of Laura Ingalls. Aspiring young actors have until April 4, 2025, to submit their tapes for the chance to embody the spirited, adventurous heroine at the heart of Wilder’s stories. The search for the rest of the Ingalls family—parents Charles and Caroline, and sisters Mary, Carrie, and Grace—is also underway, though specific details remain under wraps for now. With Netflix aiming to bring this reimagined prairie tale to life, all eyes are on who will step into these iconic roles.
The original Little House on the Prairie, starring Michael Landon as Charles “Pa” Ingalls and Melissa Gilbert as Laura, remains a cornerstone of television history. Airing for nine seasons, the series captured hearts with its heartfelt storytelling and exploration of timeless themes like family, resilience, and community. Its enduring popularity is undeniable—Netflix reported a staggering 13.25 billion minutes of viewing for the classic show in 2024 alone, fueled by a recent resurgence on streaming platforms like Peacock.
The books themselves have sold over 73 million copies worldwide, cementing their status as a literary treasure. Earlier this year, fans flocked to the Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion and Festival in Simi Valley, where cast members like Gilbert, Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson), and Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) reflected on the show’s legacy. “The show evokes so much emotion in people and made everybody feel,” Gilbert told the crowd. “So when they see us, they have the feels, and then the leftover feels from 50 years ago.”
News of the reboot has sparked a range of reactions from the original cast, blending nostalgia with optimism. Melissa Gilbert, the original Laura Ingalls, has been a vocal supporter. Addressing concerns about the reboot potentially “woke-ifying” the story, she pointed to the 1970s series’ progressive roots. “Did you watch the original? Have you seen the episode ‘The Wisdom of Solomon’? I don’t think we got more woke than that,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “We covered everything that’s going on in the world still—racism, addiction, nativism, antisemitism, misogyny, rape, spousal abuse.” For Gilbert, the reboot is a chance to explore new stories. “The original was Michael Landon’s interpretation, and now it’s time for someone else’s interpretation,” she added.
Alison Arngrim, forever etched in fans’ minds as the delightfully devious Nellie Oleson, brought her signature humor to the conversation. “I’m just the right age to play Mrs. Oleson,” she quipped to EW. “I’m totally there. I have no shame.” While she’s open to a cameo, Arngrim expects the reboot to carve its own path, likely staying closer to Wilder’s books than the original series did.
Dean Butler, who played Laura’s husband Almanzo Wilder, admitted to mixed feelings. “One of the first feelings, in all honesty, is probably, ‘If this works, are they going to forget about what we did all those years ago?’” he told Remind Magazine. Still, he sees the potential for the reboot to connect with today’s viewers. “The audience has changed. What is the television audience and what do they want? There’s a very different expectation. And if this adaptation of Little House can meet the expectation of this more current audience and bring along a few of those who have loved it, it’s going to be very successful.”
Reboots are a tricky business, and Little House on the Prairie carries the weight of a devoted fanbase with high expectations. Some may worry that the new series won’t capture the magic of the original, but Sonnenshine’s track record and passion for the material offer reassurance. Paired with Trip Friendly’s commitment to honoring his father’s legacy, the creative team seems poised to deliver a respectful yet innovative take on Wilder’s world.
As casting unfolds and production nears, the reboot is still in its early chapters. But with a talented ensemble behind it and the timeless appeal of the Ingalls family’s story, Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie could well become a standout in the streamer’s lineup. Fans old and new will have to wait a little longer to return to the banks of Plum Creek—but the journey is officially underway.
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