Grab your bonnet and lunch pail, Little House on the Prairie fans, because it's time to go back to Walnut Grove. Netflix revealed Wednesday it has ordered a reboot of the beloved series, which will be based on the third book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's series of autobiographical novels. The long-gestated project from CBS Studios and Anonymous Content was first announced in 2020.
According to Deadline, the Netflix series will follow the Ingalls family — Charles, his wife Caroline, and their children Laura and Mary — as well as characters from the Osage tribe the Ingalls family encounters in Kansas. The original Little House on the Prairie series, which ran from 1974 to 1983 on NBC, starred Michael Landon as patriarch Pa Ingalls, Karen Grassle as Caroline, Melissa Gilbert as Laura "Half-Pint" Ingalls, and Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary.
The announcement of Netflix's reboot follows news from Nielsen certifying LHOP as the top "legacy" series on streaming for 2024, with 13.3 billion minutes watched. Trip Friendly, son of original LHOP producer Ed Friendly, has been working for years to get this reboot rolling. "It was something I talked with my father about before he passed in 2007. I really felt it would be exciting to reboot the material," he told Entertainment Weekly.
Friendly is now listed as the executive producer on the Netflix reboot, with Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries) serving as executive producer and showrunner. While there’s been no casting announcements yet, Alison Arngrim, who played the nasty Nellie Oleson in the original series, expressed her interest to return, albeit in a different role. "I'm just the right age to play Mrs. Oleson," she stated. "I'm totally there. I have no shame."
With the reboot arriving during tumultuous cultural times, some are questioning whether it will fuel false nostalgia associated with simpler times or depict the harsh realities of prairie life. Some fear the reboot might glorify old ideals at the expense of truth. Yet, many eagerly await how this new adaptation will reflect on challenging themes from the past.
Sonnenshine expressed her passion for the project, stating, "I fell deeply in love with these books when I was 5 years old. They inspired me to become a writer and filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new audience." The reboot promises to be part family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, spotlighting the challenges and victories of those who shaped America’s frontier.
Jinny Howe, Netflix’s VP of drama series, also shared enthusiasm: "Little House on the Prairie has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many fans around the world, and we're excited to share its enduring themes of hope and optimism with a fresh take on this iconic story." She praised Sonnenshine's vision, which she believes will appeal to both new and existing fans.
The blend of nostalgia with modern storytelling could offer viewers new insights about the struggles faced not just by the Ingalls family, but many individuals during the harsh pioneer experience. Social media often romanticizes the aesthetics of homesteading and traditional roles, creating idealized versions disconnected from the real hardships experienced.
Reality paints quite a different picture. Historical accounts reveal how the Ingalls’ financial misadventures often dictated their movements across territories and how Caroline worked tirelessly to support her family. Understanding these challenges could dismantle glorified views associated with frontier life.
Netflix’s reboot has the potential to navigate these complex themes, capturing the warmth of family life without shying away from the difficulties of prairie living. By maintaining valuable messages of resilience and community-building through hardships, this remake might transcend mere nostalgia, offering audiences valuable lessons from the past.
Though we stand on uncertain grounds of viewing history through contemporary lenses, the impact of the show’s original iterations resonates widely. With new takes on classic tales, Netflix’s adaptation brings with it the hope for fans to engage with stories they know and love, ensuring Little House on the Prairie continues to inspire generations to come.