'Little House on the Prairie' fans should be overjoyed by Netflix news

Little House on the Prairie was a staple in many homes in the 1970s. The wholesome goodness of the show was a bit of a reprieve from the news at the end of the Vietnam War and the oil crisis later in the decade. People could tune into the show, feel good about life for a bit, and then go back to their regular lives.

The NBC series was adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's books mostly stemmed from the 1930s and 1940s. What viewers saw when they tuned in between 1974 and 1983, with over 200 total episodes, was not something they would have seen in the '70s. Life seemed more quaint on Little House, even though it was fraught with some danger, too.

If you loved the show when it was running, or enjoyed the re-runs, then you are in luck. Netflix has announced that the streamer will be making a new series based on the books. There is no timeline yet for the release as the series has just been recently ordered, but we do know a bit about the new shows.

Netflix announces the order of a new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie

One is that there is a bit of a tie to the makers of the original series starring Michael Landon. Trip Friendly of Friendly Family Productions will executive produce the series, and his father, Ed, worked in the same role on the original show. Rebecca Sonnenshine will be the showrunner, and she has previously on winners such as The Boys and Vampire Diaries.

One might wonder, though, if fans are ready for a new series. The original series is still massively popular. According to Nielsen reports, the original episodes had 13.25 billion minutes of viewing in 2024 alone. Netflix is counting on the new show being as good, of course, but it will also have high expectations to live up to.

Wilder's books also remain popular. There were eight released during Wilder's lifetime, and one released after her death. In total, the books have sold 73 million copies and have been translated into more than 25 languages.

According to Jinny Howe, Vice President of Drama Series for Netflix, "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. (Sonnenshine's) vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic."

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