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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic Little House on the Prairie is set for a Netflix reboot

The reboot will be a fresh adaptation more than 40 years after the original series.
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More than 40 years after the 1983 original series of The Little House on the Prairie, fans will be receiving a reboot.

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Netflix has announced that the new show will be “part hopeful, family drama, part epic survival tale and part origin story of the American West.”

The streaming platform further stated that “this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”

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Laura Ingalls Wilder released eight “Little House” books in the 1930s-1940s whilst the ninth was published in 1971.

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The books were all based on her childhood in the American Midwest in the late 1800s.

After the release of the final book which was an autobiographical novel, in 1974. the books became an NBC series which aired for nine series.

Three “Little House” movies were released after the series and now, in 2025, the series will have a freshen-up.

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The newest series is being creatively produced by Rebecca Sonnenshire, who will also be the executive producer.

Other executive producers include Joy Gorman Wettels, Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel and Trip Friendly.

“It has been a long-held dream of mine to carry on my father’s legacy and adapt Wilder’s classic American stories for a 21st-century audience in a way that brings together fans of both the books and the original television series,” said Trip Friendly in a statement. “I am thrilled by our talented creative team led by Rebecca Sonnenshine who are bringing these beloved stories about family, community, and survival to longtime fans and new generations.”

The new version is expected to follow Caroline and her husband Charles and their daughters Laura and Mary as they leave Wisconsin.

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Jinny Howe, Vice President of Netflix also released a statement saying, “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.”

“Rebecca’s vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic.”

Creative lead and executive producer Rebecca, added, “I fell deeply in love with these books when I was five years old. 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.”

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In an interview with ReMIND, Dean Butler who played Almanzo Wilder in the original show shared, “There have been so many different announcements about reboots or re-imaginings, but this had a different feel to it. This felt like this was really real.”

“One of the first feelings, in all honesty, is probably, well, ‘If this works, are they going to forget about what we did all those years ago?'” he explained. “And then the next thought is, ‘It’s going to be very difficult to create something that touches people’s hearts in the way that the original did.’”

Dean shared his curiousity to see the show shift to a modern climate.

“The audience has changed,” he said. “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.”

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In reflecting on the show made many years ago, he reflected that this new adaptation will be nothing like the original series.

“Michael was Michael. He was a unique creative presence with this magical touch with an audience. And look, the creative team on the new show may also have a magical touch with an audience, but it’s a different touch and it will be different.”

“There was enormous aspiration in what Michael was doing,” he later added. “Michael said years ago, ‘People will be watching this long after we’re all gone.’ Well, at 25, when he said that, it felt a little hyperbole to me. It’s like, ‘come on now.’ Now, at 68, I’m looking at this, and I’m saying, ‘yeah, absolutely people are going to be watching this.”

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Since it’s book-to-series adaptation in 1974, there have been attempts at recreating the magic of the Prairie.

Original cast member, Kate Grassle, who played the matriarch Caroline Ingalls, spoke to People magazine in 2024 saying, “There have been lots of attempts to do a Little House on the Prairie again,” Grassle said. “There have been shows, there have been a musical, and I think we had a unique experience and it can’t be repeated.” 

The release date for the Netflix show is yet to be announced.

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