Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books, inspired by her own childhood on the American frontier, have captivated generations of readers since they were first published in the 1930s. Now, a new generation will embark on their own adventure out West with Netflix’s reimagining of Wilder’s series. Season 1 of Little House on the Prairie is now streaming.
A transformed adaptation of Wilder’s semi-autobiographical books, the new Little House on the Prairie is part family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West. Starring Alice Halsey as Laura, the series, which has already been renewed for Season 2, offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.
“This show is a love story about a family. They’re a family you want to be with, you want to know, you want to spend time with,” showrunner and executive producer Rebecca Sonnenshine tells Netflix. “That’s really at the core of what Little House on the Prairie is about: a family that is there for each other, tells stories to each other, tells stories about themselves.”
Keep reading to step further into Laura’s world.
Based on the third book in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series — Little House on the Prairie — Season 1 follows the Ingalls family as they establish their “new forever” outside the small but quickly developing town of Independence. The foursome, along with their dog Jack, faces the often harsh conditions of 1800s prairie life, including fever, wolves, and fire — obstacles that longtime fans will recognize from the original novels.
“It’s about people deciding who they want to be and looking for a better life,” Sonnenshine tells Netflix. “You always have a chance to reinvent and rediscover who you are — what means something to you, what kind of person you want to be, what kind of adventures you want to take, what kind of life you want to seek.”
While the Ingalls family remains at the heart of the story, this adaptation expands its scope to include perspectives that Wilder’s books and previous adaptations didn’t explore. As they attempt to make a life on land they were told was “free,” they encounter Osage people who have long called the prairie home.
According to Julie O’Keefe, the show’s Osage cultural consultant, one message emerged early in conversations with people from the Osage Nation: “If you’re going to tell the story, then you need to tell both sides,” she says. Little House on the Prairie introduces the Mitchell family and their wider community, who have deep roots in Independence. Through parallel family stories, the series explores the tension between the settlers’ hopes for opportunity and the devastating consequences of westward expansion for Indigenous communities.
The cast of Little House on the Prairie is:
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the brilliant cast we have assembled,” Sonnenshine says. “Each one of them brings something special to the Little House universe and will help make this story come alive for a whole new generation.”
For a deep dive into the Little House on the Prairie cast, head here.
Showrunner and executive producer Sonnenshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries, Archive 81) is a lifelong fan. “I fell deeply in love with these books when I was 5 years old,” she says. “They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker. I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new audience.”
It was Sonnenshine’s deep knowledge of the books that assured executive producer Joy Gorman Wettels that she was the right fit to helm the series. “There are a lot of Laura Ingalls Wilder fans all over the world and in Hollywood,” Gorman Wettels tells Netflix. “It was an exciting surprise that Sonnenshine was in love with these books and was going to approach them the way she approaches a genre show: building a whole new world around a time that we didn’t live through but that was so seminal in American history.”
Along with Sonnenshine and Gorman Wettels, Rebecca and Trip Friendly, Dana Fox, and Susanna Fogel also executive produce.
Yes! Watch it above, and read more about it here.
Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Stick around Tudum for everything you need to know about Season 2.
No. The books inspired a TV series of the same name in the 1970s and early 1980s from Friendly Family Productions. Television producer Ed Friendly (Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In) acquired the rights after discovering how much his daughter loved the books. He went on to executive-produce the long-running NBC series.
Now Friendly’s son, Trip, and Trip’s daughter, Rebecca, COO of Friendly Family Productions, are the primary stewards of the IP and executive producers of Netflix’s new series. “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,” says Trip Friendly, CEO of Friendly Family Productions.
Since its original publication in the 1930s, Wilder’s book series has sold more than 73 million copies in more than 100 countries and has been translated into at least 27 languages. Although it’s been more than a half-century since the 1974 show debuted, Nielsen reported that the nostalgic series garnered 13.25 billion minutes of viewing in 2024 alone. Talk about staying power!
“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,” says Jinny Howe, vice president, Drama Series, Netflix. “Rebecca [Sonnenshine]’s vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic.”
Discover the gorgeous, sprawling settings, and see how they compare to the descriptions in Wilder’s novel.
Yes, Laura’s story is just getting started. Ahead of its Season 1 debut, Little House on the Prairie was renewed for Season 2.
“I’m incredibly grateful to our wonderful cast and crew, who put their hearts and hard work into making our first season come alive,” Sonnenshine tells Tudum. “We can’t wait to share this new adaptation of the Little House books with the world, and we’re thrilled that Netflix is giving us the opportunity to continue the story.”
Season 2 will follow the Ingalls family to Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and introduce one of the most iconic characters from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s world: Nellie Oleson, Laura’s ultimate rival, played by Willa Dunn. Also joining the cast are Charlotte Sullivan (Law & Order: Organized Crime, FBI) as Nellie’s energetic and quick-witted mother, Margaret Oleson, and Rachelle Lefevre (North by North, Liz Here Now) as beloved schoolteacher Eva Beadle. She quickly becomes a guiding presence for Mary and Laura.
Thankfully, yes! Just like in the original book, Jack goes missing as the Ingalls family crosses a treacherous river on their journey to Kansas in Episode 1. In both, Jack survives and eventually reunites with his family once they reach Independence. According to Sonnenshine, however, Jack’s absence is prolonged in the show to build suspense and establish the massive stakes of the family’s move West. “It’s all drawn from the book, but it does take him longer to find the family,” she explains.
Little House on the Prairie is a TV-PG series centered on a loving family, filled with music, everyday chores, and adventures. Like the beloved books that inspired it, the series also doesn't shy away from the realities of life on the frontier. Some episodes contain moments of danger, including river crossings, animal attacks, serious illness, and emotional themes such as war trauma and land loss. Many families may find that these moments are best experienced together, giving parents and caregivers an opportunity to answer questions and discuss some of the show's larger themes, including grief, prejudice, and resilience.
Whether you're talking about an episode or taking a break with one of Netflix Family Magazine’s free Little House on the Prairie downloadable activities, co-watching can be a great way to experience the series together. Below, we’ve highlighted the season’s more intense scenes to help you decide what feels right for your family and when younger viewers might appreciate a little extra support. Because this guide is designed to help families prepare, it includes spoilers for all eight episodes of Season 1.
Netflix has a slew of offerings to tide you over until Season 2: Check out Tudum’s recommendations, including a list of shows and movies like Little House on the Prairie and a list of TV series based on books. Also, dive deep into this timeline of period pieces to inspire your next watch.
If you’re looking to cozy up with some more wholesome and heartwarming stories, press play on Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, My Life with the Walter Boys, and Ransom Canyon.
