Decades before Yellowstone and its spinoffs gave us a glimpse of American frontier life, Little House on the Prairie was the Sunday afternoon show to watch.
The hit series, based on Laura Ingalls Wilders’ bestselling books about growing up on a farm in the 1880s in Minnesota, was phenomenally popular, so much so that it has remained one of the most-streamed titles for Peacock in 2024.
Last year, it was confirmed that the series, which starred Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, was getting the Netflix treatment, and now we have a first look at the production.
In April, Netflix shared a trailer for the reboot, giving us our first look at what to expect from the hotly anticipated series.
The short trailer sets the scene, with the young narrator explaining how ‘Ma and Pa and Mary and Laura left the big woods of Wisconsin and moved to the Prairie where a new life was waiting for them.’
‘Every day and every night was an adventure,’ she continues as clips of the stunning scenery and frontier town roll.
The trailer ends with young Laura saying: ‘And even though they were all alone and very small against the sky and the stars, they were happy, because they were a family and they were together.’
Who is in the cast?
Luke Bracey, who is perhaps best known for starring in Holidate with Emma Roberts, will play Pa, Charles Ingalls, in the remake.
Ma, Caroline Ingalls, will be played by actress Crosby Fitzgerald, who you might recognise from shows such as Abbott Elementary, The First Lady, and Palm Royale.
As for the younger members of the Ingalls family, Skywalker Hughes, who starred in the movie Ordinary Angels alongside Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson, will take on the role of Mary.
Young star Alice Halsey will play the younger Ingalls sister, Laura. Alice’s biggest role to date has been in the Apple TV show Lessons in Chemistry, where she starred with Brie Larson.
She’s delighted to be joining the cast, saying on Instagram: ‘I love all of the Little House books so much, and I’m so excited and grateful to get to bring Laura to life!
‘Thank you so much to the Little House creative team for putting your faith in me.’
Skywalker responded to Alice’s post, sweetly saying: ‘I’m soo excited to be sisters on the prairie with you too!!!!!!!! Here we go!!!!’
What have the show’s creators said?
Rebecca Sonnenshine is acting as Executive Producer on the series along with Tripp Friendly of Friendly Family Productions, who is the son of original producer Ed Friendly.
She credited her love of the 73m bestselling book series with inspiring her career saying: ‘ 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 honoured and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix. ‘
Her words were echoed by Jinny Howe, Vice President of drama series for Netflix who said: ‘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.’
Will Melissa Gilbert be back?
Few details have been released to date with some media outlets pondering if Melissa Gilbert, who subsequently went on to star in a host of shows and films, will return for the series.
She also stepped in to play Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls in the musical adaptation of Little House on the Prairie in 2008 and 2009 before running for political office in 2016 and launching a lifestyle brand for women in 2022 called Modern Prairie.
Watch the Netflix trailer below:
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