Netflix Reboots Little House On The Prairie As Epic Survival Journey

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In the realm of television, there’s been a lot of hype around revivals, makeovers, and new starts, but this particular comeback seems to have taken everyone by surprise.

Netflix plans to bring back to life the 1800s period series “Little House on the Prairie,” which is inspired by the beloved “Little House” book collection authored by Laura Ingalls Wilder during the 1930s.

The showrunner, Rebecca Sonneshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries, Archive 81), had this to say:

From the tender age of five, these books captured my heart completely. They sparked my dream of becoming both a novelist and a filmmaker, and it’s an immense privilege and excitement for me to now adapt these tales for a fresh readership.

The Original Little House Is Still Popular

Back in the mid-70s to the early 80s, I was utterly captivated by the small-screen adaptation of “Little House on the Prairie.” This timeless series unfolded over a span of ten years, encompassing an impressive collection of 200 episodes and four special editions. Over that decade, this cherished show garnered numerous Emmy Awards, predominantly for its exceptional cinematography. It’s a nostalgic gem from the golden age of television, seemingly light-years away from the tales we savor today.

To clarify, Nielsen recently published their end-of-year streaming data breakdown. Notably, they mentioned that the original “Little House” series amassed a staggering 13.25 billion minutes of view time. Interestingly, this figure is only slightly lower than that of the globally acclaimed series “The Boys,” which clocked in at 13.58 billion minutes. However, it’s important to note that “Bluey” took the top spot with a whopping 55.62 billion minutes watched.

It’s quite astonishing yet delightful that a timeless piece such as “Little House on the Prairie” continues to captivate readers, although it seems that its readership tends to lean towards the older generation according to Nielsen.

How Will The New Little House Differ From The Original?

In the press release, Netflix gave some insight into the tone of this new adaptation.

Revisited and modified version of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s semi-autobiographical books, the latest “Little House on the Prairie”
is a blend of family drama, gripping survival saga, and origin narrative of the American West. The show promises a vibrant, multifaceted perspective on the hardships and victories experienced by those who molded the frontier.

In simpler terms, you could say the original show revolves around family dynamics, survival in the Wild West, and its formative history. What sets this Netflix version apart is its expansive narrative scope and grandeur. With a substantial budget at their disposal, they aim to create a more epic tale, transforming intimate stories into something grand.

In the opening 90-minute television movie of “Little House on the Prairie”, the Ingalls family depart from their original home, embarking on a journey to establish a new life in Kansas. The trip is challenging, yet they persevere and manage to construct a home. Initially, it appears that everything is progressing smoothly, but as time passes, they discover that the land they’ve settled upon belongs to Native American tribes. The movie concludes with the government forcibly removing them from their homestead, leaving the family no choice but to relocate elsewhere.

I find it quite plausible that Netflix might expand the 90-minute pilot into a full 10-episode first season, providing a more in-depth exploration of the storyline, the drama, and so forth.

There’s currently no release date.

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2025-01-30 02:09