Netflix to Reimagine Little House on the Prairie with New Series and Showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine
Rebecca Sonnenshine, known for her work on The Boys, Vampire Diaries, and Archive 81, will serve as showrunner and executive producer for Netflix's reimagining of Little House on the Prairie. This new series is based on the book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Other executive producers include Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel, and Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions, who has long advocated for a reboot.
Trip Friendly expressed his passion about continuing his father's legacy with this adaptation: "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." He added, "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."
"I fell deeply in love with these books when I was five years old," remarked Sonnenshine. "They inspired me to become a writer and filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix."
The upcoming series from CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studios will focus on Charles, Caroline, and their daughters Laura and Mary as they move from Wisconsin to Independence, Kansas. The first season will be based on the book Little House on the Prairie, featuring Osage characters.
Friendly's father, Ed, purchased the TV and movie rights to the Wilder novels, which led to the original NBC drama premiering in 1974. In 2020, Friendly sold the rights to Paramount TV Studios and Anonymous Content. "Fans are eager to see Little House on the Prairie come back to the screen, and we agree the time is right," he mentioned to EW at the time.
After some delays, the project found a home on Netflix about a year ago and was confirmed for a series pickup just before the holidays.
"Little House on the Prairie has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many fans around the world," said Jinny Howe, VP of Drama Series at Netflix. "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, highlighting its emotional depth.
Historically, there have been few attempts to reintroduce the series beyond a forgettable miniseries in 2005 and a touring stage musical from 2008-2010. Despite this, interest in the original series has remained strong, with reruns still airing worldwide. Last year, the show accumulated 13.3 billion minutes of viewing time on Peacock.
Recently, Simi Valley hosted a three-day Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion and Festival, where fans gathered to reunite with cast members like Melissa Gilbert and Karen Grassle. The event featured artifacts from the show and celebrated its lasting impact. Gilbert articulated the emotions tied to the series, saying, "The show evokes so much emotion in people and made everybody feel. There's this continuity and sense of family. This is a giant family reunion."
