Little House on the Prairie returns

If you’re craving something cosy and nostalgic this summer, or you are looking for a new TV show to sink right into, Netflix would be very happy if you turned your attention to Little House on the Prairie. No, not the original series from the 1970s (which is still a great watch), but an all-new take on Little House which will be hitting screens this summer.

The streaming giant is reviving the popular show for a whole new run, with a new creative team, a new cast, and new stories. But fear not, this latest iteration of Little House still promises to deliver the same level of charm and entertainment as you might expect from a series of this nature and prestige.

The show will also continue to take inspiration from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The books provided the starting blocks for the original series, and this new show is keen not to stray too far from that same inspirational path.

Netflix describes the new series as “part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West”. The streaming service added: “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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Creating a Little House

Now, as mentioned above, this new take on Little House on the Prairie features a new cast, and it is a cast who showrunner and executive producer Rebecca Sonnenshine refers to as “brilliant”. Speaking via Tudum, Sonnenshine commented: “Each one of (the cast) brings something special to the Little House universe.”

The cast includes Alice Halsey as young Laura Ingalls (previously played by Melissa Gilbert in the original show); Skywalker Hughes as Laura’s sister, Mary (previously played by Melissa Sue Anderson); and Crosby Fitzgerald as mother Caroline (previously played by Karen Grassie). Meanwhile, Luke Bracey is taking on the role of Charles Ingalls, who was famously played by Michael Landon in the ‘70s series.

These are of course big shoes to fill, as Landon was very popular with audiences, and many would argue Charles Ingalls was the heart of the original show. But this shouldn’t trouble Australian-born Bracey, who has a wealth of TV and film experience under his belt, having appeared in movies such as Hacksaw Ridge, Elvis, and the Point Break remake, as well as television shows including The Artful Dodger and long-running Aussie soap, Home and Away.

Outside of the Ingalls, Jocko Sims is playing Dr. George Tann, Warren Christie is Civil War veteran John Edwards, Wren Zhawenim Gotts is Good Eagle, Meegwun Fairbrother is Mitchell, Alyssa Wapanatahk is White Sun, and Xander Cole is Little Puma. Other cast members include Ryan Robbins, Barrett Doss, Mary Holland, Michael Hough, Kowen Cadorath, Thosh Collins, Maclean Fish, and Rebecca Amzallag.

Filming on the show began in June 2025. Shooting locations included Winnipeg, Canada.

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Behind the scenes 

As highlighted above, Rebecca Sonnenshine is both the showrunner and an executive producer on Little House on the Prairie. Sonnenshine is working alongside Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel, Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, and Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions.

If the name Trip Friendly sounds familiar it’s because Trip’s father, Ed, produced the original series. Trip was keen to continue the family association.

Speaking to Tudum, Friendly commented: “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.”

As for the show itself, Netflix has already confirmed viewers can expect at least two seasons of Little House, which demonstrates the streaming service’s belief in the show. Netflix isn’t always quick to renew shows, so the fact Little House on the Prairie has been given a second season before season one starts streaming is pretty encouraging indeed.

The first season of eight episodes will land on July 9th, with the next batch following at an as-yet unconfirmed date. If these prove as popular as Netflix hopes, then more will no doubt follow.

Will the new series have the same broadcasting longevity as its predecessor? Only time will tell, but however successful it is, it will have quite job on its hands to match the original series, which was something of a huge hit.

Running from 1974 through to 1983, the show clocked up a feature-length pilot movie, 200 regular episodes, and a collection of specials. These stories proved popular during their initial broadcast, and remain popular today.

In fact, the original Little House on the Prairie is still in regular re-run rotation all over the world. Whether it is playing on traditional television channels, through streaming, or maybe DVD, the show continues to draw in viewers, maintaining its status as one of the best loved shows of yesteryear.

If the new Netflix series can tap into even a fraction of this success, it should be onto a winner. Here’s hoping it does.

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Go beyond the Little House

Should you want to get in the mood for Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie, or you’re after something tonally or stylistically similar to wile away the hours, then you might like to try out the following:

• Little House on the Prairie (1974 – 1983) – The original series was packed with heart and humour and followed the story of the Ingalls family as they set up home in Walnut Grove, Minnesota during the 1870s.
• The Waltons (1972 – 1981) – Popular drama series about an American family living in Jefferson County during the hardships of the 1930s and 1940s.
• My Life with the Walter Boys (2023 – Present) – Coming-of-age Netflix drama about an orphaned teenager who moves to rural Colorado to live with the Walter family.
• Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993 – 1998) – Western drama set in the 1860s, about a female physician who settles in Colorado Springs, takes in three children to raise as her own, and attempts to change the attitudes of those who don’t believe doctors can be women.
• When Calls the Heart (2014 – Present) – Set in the early 1900s, Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart focuses on a young school teacher who moves to a rural coal town to start a new life.

All of the above should give you plenty of hours of viewing, and will almost certainly keep you busy until Little House on the Prairie arrives. 

Release: July 9th / Netflix

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this newsletter post about Little House on the Prairie. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.