Latest news with #LauraIngallsWilder
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Little House on the Prairie' to start filming in Winnipeg next month
Little House on the Prairie. (© YouTube/LittleHouse) The reboot of a classic TV show is set to start filming in Winnipeg and the surrounding area next month. Netflix and CBS TV are bringing 'Little House on the Prairie' to Manitoba with filming going from June to October. The series, described as a new adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's semi-autobiographical novels, will be directed by Sara Adina Smith. Kari Casting, an extras casting team in Manitoba that is involved with the production, describes it as 'part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale and part origin story of the American West.' The TV series will follow the Ingall family who live and work on a farm in the midwestern U.S. during the late 19th century, according to a description from IMDb. Luke Bracey, Alice Halsey, Skywalker Hughes and Crosby Fitzgerald are all set to star in the reboot.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See the Cast of Netflix's 'Little House on the Prairie' Reboot Side-by-Side with the Original Series' Stars
More than 40 years after Little House on the Prairie ended, fans are returning to the American West. In January 2025, Netflix announced that it would be rebooting the Little House on the Prairie series for a new audience — an adaptation that, according to the show's official logline, will be "part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale and part origin story of the American West." 'I fell deeply in love with these books when I was five years old,' showrunner and executive producer Rebecca Sonnenshine said in a statement, per Variety. 'They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix.' The original NBC series — based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic books about her childhood in the late 1800s — followed the life of Laura Ingalls, a pioneer girl growing up with her family during America's westward expansion. The show began with their life in Wisconsin and traced their move to Kansas as they faced hardships like crop failures and disease. It ran for nine seasons from 1974 to 1983 and starred Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls, Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls, Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls and Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls. In May 2025, Netflix announced four cast members who would be starring in the series, including Alice Halsey as Laura Ingalls. With the remake on the way, here's a look at the new Little House on the Prairie cast side-by-side with the actors who formerly played the Ingalls family. Alice Halsey will play Laura Ingalls — the bright, honest, authority-questioning and sometimes disruptive young heroine of Netflix's Little House on the Prairie. "I love all of the Little House books so much, and I'm so excited and grateful to get to bring Laura to life!" Halsey wrote on Instagram in May 2025. "Thank you so much to the Little House creative team for putting your faith in me." Halsey is an up-and-coming actress whose past credits include Lessons in Chemistry, Days of Our Lives, Night Court and Kindergarten: The Musical. Melissa Gilbert previously played Laura Ingalls in NBC's Little House on the Prairie. She went on to star in several TV shows and films, including 23 episodes of the NBC show Sweet Justice and 2017's TV movie Tenure. As for a possible cameo in Netflix's new series, Gilbert told PEOPLE in February 2025 that it's a "conversation to be had another day, or maybe not." She continued, "My knee-jerk reaction is that I think they should create their own whole universe and maybe not try and cross things over too much or cross the streams as it were." Luke Bracey will play Laura Ingalls' Pa, Charles Ingalls, in the upcoming remake of Little House on the Prairie. Bracey, who has been acting since 2009, is best known for 2020's Holidate, in which he starred opposite Emma Roberts. He also appeared in Elvis (2022) as talent manager Jerry Schilling and starred in the 2023 thriller Mercy Road. Michael Landon was the first actor to portray Charles Ingalls. After Little House on the Prairie ended in 1983, he starred in the NBC series Highway to Heaven, which ran for five seasons. He also filmed two TV movies — Where Pigeons Go to Die and Us — before his death from pancreatic cancer in July 1991. Crosby Fitzgerald will play Laura Ingalls' Ma, Caroline Ingalls, in the Netflix remake. Like Halsey, Fitzgerald is also an up-and-coming actress. Her past acting credits include appearances in TV series such as Abbott Elementary, The First Lady and Palm Royale. Actress Karen Grassle originally played Caroline Ingalls. She has acted intermittently since NBC's Little House on the Prairie ended — most notably, starring in the series' TV movie Little House: The Last Farewell in 1984 and the 2021 film Not to Forget. Skywalker Hughes will portray Laura Ingalls' older sister, Mary Ingalls. Fans might recognize the young actress from the Amazon Prime Video show Joe Pickett, in which she played Sheridan Pickett for two seasons, or the 2024 film Ordinary Angels, in which she starred opposite Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson. Mary Ingalls was previously played by Melissa Sue Anderson, who went on to appear in shows like The Equalizer and voice Snowbird in X-Men: The Animated Series. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix's Little House on the Prairie Reboot Has Found Its Laura Ingalls
TV's new Little House on the Prairie has its first resident. Three months after Netflix's adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's iconic semi-autobiographical books was announced, the role of no less than wee Laura Ingalls has been cast — with Alice Halsey, whose previous TV credits include playing daughter to Brie Larson in Apple TV+'s Lessons in Chemistry. More from TVLine Elsbeth Co-Star Not Returning as Series Regular for Season 3 Einstein: Rosa Salazar Exits as Female Lead After CBS Delays Premiere Dave Nemetz Reviews The Four Seasons: Tina Fey Delivers a Cozy, Witty Comedy for Grown-Ups - Now, YOU Grade It! Melissa Gilbert famously played Laura in the original Little House TV series that bowed March 1974 on NBC, had a nine-season run and spawned a trio of made-for-TV movies. Described as 'part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West,' Netflix's 'fresh' take on Wilder's Little House books promises 'a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.' The adventures of the Ingalls family — which also include parents Charles and Caroline, and older sister Mary, to start — is seen through the eyes of young Laura. 'Everyone sees themselves in Laura. That's why these books endure,' says the official description of Halsey's character. 'Laura is a disruptor. Honest to a fault. Questions authority. She's our window into this adventure. An American icon in waiting. 'Forget your modern ideas of childhood — the stakes are high for children living in the 19th century,' the overview continues. 'They have responsibilities — and freedoms — that seem extraordinary in this era of helicopter parenting. Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery. Laura is observant, tender, strong-willed, hot-tempered. She resists the bounds of 19th-century ladylike behavior — she likes to run barefoot and feel the sun on her face. She is curious and optimistic and fearless, like her father; resourceful and hardworking and honest, like her mother. She is quick to call out anyone who is cruel or unjust. She loves fiercely and unapologetically and is utterly devoted to her dog, Jack.' Wee Laura also 'rubs some adults the wrong way — too many hard questions, too much personality, too much energy — but to the people who matter, she's a bright light. She absorbs every detail she sees around her, collecting them for stories she will someday share with the world.' Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Vampire Diaries, The Boys) serves as showrunner on the CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studio co-prouction and will executive-produce alongside Trip Friendly (son of original series EP Ed Friendly), Joy Gorman Wettels, Dana Fox and Susanna Fogel. Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons in Chemistry, Hanna) is set to direct the first episode. Want scoop on, or for any other TV show? Shoot an email to , and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line! Best of TVLine Stars Who Almost Played Other TV Roles — on Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Friends and Other Shows TV Stars Almost Cast in Other Roles Fall TV Preview: Who's In? Who's Out? Your Guide to Every Casting Move!
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Little House,' big hit: What the enduring fascination with Laura Ingalls tells us about our yearning for the simple life
It's been 93 years since Laura Ingalls Wilder's first Little House on the Prarie book — based on her life growing up as a homesteader in the 1870s — was published, and more than 50 since the TV show inspired by it premiered back in 1974. Not that you'd know it: Reruns of the show, starring Michael Landon as Pa and Melissa Gilbert as Laura, racked up more than 13 billion minutes of viewing on Peacock last year, making it one of the most-watched shows of 2024. The series is also getting a second life on TikTok, while Netflix recently announced that it's working on a new TV adaptation to bring a "new generation" to the LHOTP fold. As it is, there's no shortage of die-hard Laura Ingalls Wilder superfans waxing nostalgic about making maple candy in the snow and getting even with Nellie Oleson. Journalist Jo Piazza even launched an entire podcast, Wilder, in which she interviewed various guest experts about the enduring LHOTP cultural phenomenon. Journalist and cultural critic Sara Louise Petersen was one such guest weighing in on why a series capturing the so-called simple charms of settler life some 150 years ago still has such a hold. 'The story certainly speaks to our cherished American myth of rugged individualism and manifest destiny,' Petersen tells Yahoo Life of the LHOTP resurgence. And in tumultuous times, a little homespun wisdom can be appealing. 'I think when people feel lost, disillusioned or desperate, we have a very American tendency to go inward in efforts to self-optimize our way out of difficulty,' she says. 'The books (to an extent) present a very gritty, dark period of history as cozy and tightly knit.' Peterson says the books — and the TV show they inspired — continue to be so popular simply because 'it's perversely easier to believe in this type of fairy tale than to do the incredibly hard work of making our current reality better on a collective level for everyone.' Neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez agrees that LHOTP is having a moment right now because Americans just plain want nostalgia and comfort viewing. 'Many people long for simpler times and enjoy revisiting the show's heartwarming stories [to find] a sense of peace,' she tells Yahoo Life. What do LHOTP fans themselves have to say? Here's what they told us. Author Carrie E. Pierce received a new Little House on the Prairie book every Christmas when she was growing up. 'I couldn't wait to dive into it, usually reading by the light of the tree on Christmas night,' Pierce tells Yahoo Life. 'As I grew, I came to appreciate the television show, watching reruns of the series well into my 20s and 30s. The series connected me to a kinder, gentler world and reminded me of what truly mattered in life, despite what the current culture dictated and demanded.' Pierce says those values are manifold: the importance of family, an innate moral compass, the reward of hard work, self-discipline, gratitude, service to others, forgiveness, friendship and more. 'Now, at age 61, I can clearly see my life (and my writing) has been made better because of Little House on the Prairie,' she says. Another LHOTP fan, Loris Petro, tells Yahoo Life that the thing that drew him to the show was 'how it portrays community and resilience." He explains: "It makes you think about the way we handle challenges today, and it reminds you of the value of turning to the people closest to us when things are rough.' The show is notably unafraid to address harsh issues (disease, death, crop failure, the usual), which Petro finds 'quite refreshing." "Today, everything seems to be about marketing a perfect life, smiling and winning all day long,' he says. 'Little House reminds me that people connect more with struggle and truth. … That's where real stories live, not in some glossy filter.' And speaking of filters … Given all of this continued glamorizing of the LHOTP aesthetic — and its tropes like milking cows, birthing babies, baking from scratch, etc. — Petersen can't help but see a throughline from Wilder's tales to today's tradwives. 'So many tradwives look like extras from Little House, and so many mimic that cozy, homey feel the show and books evoke," she says. If you're unfamiliar, tradwives (short for 'traditional wives') are a particular, fascinating brand of social media influencers (Ballerina Farm's Hannah Neeleman being the most well-known example) who perpetuate extreme ideals of homemaking, motherhood and marriage. They've likely appeared in your feed; they appeal to the algorithm because they're beautiful, constantly baking and live in impeccably curated rustic-chic homes. But not everyone will agree with the conservative values that typically underpin their content, or the notion that the past should be romanticized. 'I think gingham, calico and, like, reclaimed wood are visual shortcuts to believing in the very false idea of a time that was better — for pretty much no one,' adds Petersen. After all, the books take place in the late 1800s. The Jim Crow era was just beginning, women couldn't vote and antibiotics had yet to be discovered — to name just a few, um, issues. Wilder's books contain scenes that are dehumanizing toward people of color, and her name was removed from her eponymous book award in 2018 for this reason. So, is this all just an uncomfortable throwback to what some over-value as a so-called "simpler time'? Or are there actual good-for-you lessons we can take away from LHOTP that still apply? 'Of course!' says Petersen. She points to "food sustainability, ecological preservation, divesting from screens and reclaiming our time" as LHOTP-aligned values that are 'not unique to tradwives." "Little House on the Prairie was more progressive than many may remember, often addressing issues like racism, disability and women's rights in ways that were ahead of its time," Hafeez adds. She notes that strong female characters like Caroline and Laura Ingalls challenged traditional gender roles of the time by pursuing education, independence and leadership. What's more, Hafeez says, 'the current fascination with Little House on the Prairie and simple living aesthetics teaches important concepts, such as slowing down life's pace and spending more time outdoors,' which studies show can help improve mental health. But simplicity isn't about donning a perfect gingham apron to prepare the sourdough pancakes in your bizarrely spotless kitchen. 'Real simplicity,' Hafeez continues, 'means living according to your values rather than displaying curated spaces and fashion.' She points out that 'people who pursue an idealized slow-living lifestyle often face new pressures to perform simplicity instead of truly experiencing it.' There's no harm (or shame) in enjoying the LHOTP books and series as mere entertainment rather than a guide to how you should be living. But if you do come away inspired to live a life that's a little more Walnut Grove and a lot less rat race, Hafeez suggests finding ways "to disconnect, create and slow down without turning it into another unrealistic expectation.' Bottom line: There's no prize for churning butter.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Little House,' big hit: What the enduring fascination with Laura Ingalls tells us about our yearning for the simple life
If you, too, have such vivid childhood memories of Ma and Pa and typhus outbreaks and making maple candy in the snow that you could almost swear you grew up right there in that little house along with Laura Ingalls Wilder — well, you're not alone. Between the success of the Little House on the Prairie reruns, a new reboot announced, and the enduring culture of die-hard Laura Ingalls Wilder superfans, it's clear there's something compelling going on here. The LHOTP TV series, which began back in 1974, was a dark-horse winner among the top shows of 2024, with more than 13 billion (!) minutes of viewing on Peacock. It's also one of the most-viewed reruns on TikTok, and the journalist Jo Piazza did an entire podcast, Wilder, in which she interviewed various guest experts about the enduring Laura Ingalls Wilder cultural phenomenon/industrial complex. Sara Louise Petersen, a journalist and cultural critic, was one such guest. 'The story certainly speaks to our cherished American myth of rugged individualism and manifest destiny,' Petersen tells Yahoo Life of the LHOTP resurgence. 'I think when people feel lost, disillusioned, or desperate, we have a very American tendency to go inward in efforts to self-optimize our way out of difficulty,' she says. 'The books (to an extent) present a very gritty, dark period of history as cozy and tightly knit.' Peterson says the books — and the TV show they inspired — continue to be so popular simply because 'it's perversely easier to believe in this type of fairy tale than to do the incredibly hard work of making our current reality better on a collective level for everyone.' This feels spot-on for 2025 America, with the government stirring up further chaos every day and citizens feeling increasingly powerless. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist, agrees that LHOTP is having a moment right now because Americans just plain want nostalgia and comfort viewing. 'Many people long for simpler times and enjoy revisiting the show's heartwarming stories [to find] a sense of peace,' she tells Yahoo Life. But do LHOTP fans themselves admit escapism as a primary reason for their fandom? Not entirely. Why fans remain so drawn to and the simple life The author Carrie E. Pierce received a new volume in the Little House on the Prairie series every Christmas when she was growing up. 'I couldn't wait to dive into it, usually reading by the light of the tree on Christmas night,' Pierce tells Yahoo Life. 'As I grew, I came to appreciate the television show, watching reruns of the series well into my 20s and 30s. The series connected me to a kinder, gentler world and reminded me of what truly mattered in life, despite what the current culture dictated and demanded.' Pierce says those values are manifold: the importance of family, an innate moral compass, the reward of hard work, self-discipline, gratitude, service to others, forgiveness, friendship, and more. 'Now at age 61, I can clearly see my life (and my writing) has been made better because of Little House on the Prairie,' she says. Another LHOTP fan, Loris Petro, tells Yahoo Life that the thing that drew him into the show was 'how it portrays community and resilience. … It makes you think about the way we handle challenges today, and it reminds you of the value of turning to the people closest to us when things are rough.' The show is notably unafraid to address harsh issues (disease, death, crop failure, the usual), which Petro finds 'quite refreshing. Today, everything seems to be about marketing a perfect life, smiling, and winning all day long,' he says. 'Little House reminds me that people connect more with struggle and truth. … That's where real stories live, not in some glossy filter.' And speaking of filters… How prairie-chic went from pioneers to Instagram tradwives Given all of this continued glamorizing of the LHOTP aesthetic — and its tropes like milking cows, birthing babies, baking from scratch while barefoot in the kitchen, etc. — I asked Petersen if she thinks there's a through-line from Wilder's tales to today's tradwives. 'Lol yup!' she says. 'So many tradwives look like extras from Little House, and so many mimic that cozy, homey feel the show and books evoke.' If you're unfamiliar, tradwives (short for 'traditional wives') are a particular, fascinating brand of conservative Christian social media influencers who perpetuate extreme ideals of homemaking and motherhood and service to their husbands. The beauty queen farm mom Hannah Neeleman is the best-known example. They've likely appeared in your feed; they appeal to the algorithm because they're beautiful, constantly baking and live in impeccably curated rustic-chic homes. But the aesthetic often hides an insidious agenda that's anti-choice, anti-vaccine, and more. 'I think gingham, calico, and like, reclaimed wood are visual shortcuts to believing in the very false idea of a time that was better — for pretty much no one,' adds Petersen. And she's right: The books take place in the late 1800s. That's during the Jim Crow era, when women couldn't vote, and when neither germs nor antibiotics had been discovered yet — to name just a few, um, issues. Wilder's books themselves contain scenes that are dehumanizing towards people of color, and her name was removed from her eponymous book award in 2018 for this reason. When asked what other parts of the LHOTP stories we should all quit glamorizing, Petersen has a few suggestions: 'Adherence to gender roles and gender essentialism!' she says. 'The heteronormative white nuclear family ideal!' Add to that hyper-individualism as opposed to collectivism, the presumption of white maternal morality … the list truly goes on. The bright side So, is this all just an uncomfortable throwback to what some over-value as 'a simpler time' (translation: a time in which many, many important groups of human beings had even fewer rights than they have today)? Or are there actual good-for-you lessons we can take away from LHOTP that still apply? 'Of course!' says Petersen. 'Many progressives, for example, believe in food sustainability, ecological preservation, divesting from screens, and reclaiming our time.' These values are right in line with the LHOTP approach and simple lifestyle, and they are 'not unique to tradwives wanting to birth their own white armies or be led by their husbands.' Thankfully. Dr. Hafeez agrees, saying 'Little House on the Prairie was more progressive than many may remember, often addressing issues like racism, disability and women's rights in ways that were ahead of its time.' She points out that the strong female characters like Caroline and Laura Ingalls challenged traditional gender roles by pursuing education, independence and leadership. In addition, Dr. Hafeez says, 'the current fascination with Little House on the Prairie and simple living aesthetics teaches important concepts, such as slowing down life's pace and spending more time outdoors,' which studies show can help to improve mental health. But simplicity isn't about donning a perfect gingham apron to prepare the perfect sourdough pancakes in your bizarrely spotless kitchen. 'Real simplicity,' Dr. Hafeez continues, 'means living according to your values rather than displaying curated spaces and fashion.' She points out that 'people who pursue an idealized, slow-living lifestyle often face new pressures to perform simplicity instead of truly experiencing it.' Instead, Dr. Hafeez advises LHOTP fans and foes alike to let the books and the shows be your inspiration for finding 'ways to disconnect, create and slow down, without turning it into another unrealistic expectation.' In this way, the real positive takeaway from nearly a century of LHOTP is one that's anti-tradwife after all: It's about looking forward rather than back — and about living rather than performing for the 'gram.
