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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, beloved by children (and former children) of many generations, are based on her own experiences growing up in the American West in the 1800s. Written during the Great Depression and first published in the 1930s, Wilder’s stories were adapted into the hit TV series Little House on the Prairie, which ran for nearly a decade in the 1970s and into the ’80s. Now a new generation will have its own version with Netflix’s reimagining of the treasured novels.
Following the previously released teaser that introduced viewers to Laura’s world, a newly released trailer — which you can watch above — offers a deeper look at the community surrounding the Ingalls family. The new series premieres July 9.
Alice Halsey (Lessons in Chemistry) stars as Laura Ingalls, the bright, honest, authority-questioning young heroine of our story. 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. The series will offer a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the brilliant cast we have assembled,” says showrunner and executive producer Rebecca Sonnenshine. “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.”
Read on to meet the folks bringing Laura’s world to life, plus get a peek at new first-look photos from the series.
Played by Alice Halsey, Laura is observant, tender, strong-willed, and hot-tempered. The stakes are high for a kid growing up in the 19th century: Small pleasures and petty sibling disputes mix with true feats of survival and bravery. Laura is curious, optimistic, and fearless like her father; resourceful, hardworking, and honest like her mother. Quick to knock down anyone who is cruel or unjust, Laura loves fiercely and unapologetically and is utterly devoted to her dog, Jack. She 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.
Luke Bracey (Elvis, Hacksaw Ridge, Little Fires Everywhere) plays Laura’s ruggedly handsome, charming, and outgoing father, Charles Ingalls. The original Girl Dad, Charles is a farmer and a trapper, a carpenter and an artist. He is an optimist, always glass half-full. But he is also a wanderer, forever in search of greener pastures. A poet, a musician, and a skilled storyteller, Charles won his wife’s heart by carrying her three miles through the snow to a winter dance. He’s a man who’d fit in seamlessly into the 21st century.
Crosby Fitzgerald (Crime 101, Palm Royale) plays Laura’s mother, Caroline Ingalls. Caroline did not marry her husband out of convenience — they fell truly, madly, deeply in love. It was a great romance — and it still is. She’s got a playful, romantic side, but at the end of the day, she’s the one who keeps this family on track (like moms do). Caroline is quiet and patient and practical, with a core of steel. She gave up her teaching career to have a family, but her yearning for independence never quite went away. Her marriage is one of equals — something rare in the 19th century. And though her trust in her husband is sometimes tested, the strength of their love endures.
Skywalker Hughes (I, Object) plays Mary Ingalls, Laura’s older sister and polar opposite. Always angling to be the good daughter, the ladylike one, the prettier one, Mary is a rule follower — obedient, quiet, and studious. Other parents love Mary. Unlike her sister, she is uncomfortable in the natural world: The sun is too hot, the snow is too cold. She’s partial instead to reading poetry, or spending long afternoons sewing. In other words, Laura and Mary are oil and water. Best friends and mortal enemies, they love each other deeply and hate each other intensely. But in the end, they always have each other’s backs — there is no choice but to protect each other in this wild, new landscape.
Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam) plays Dr. George Tann. Dr. Tann is a generous and kindhearted man with a charming bedside manner that makes him a connector within the community.
Warren Christie (The Watchful Eye) plays John Edwards, a Civil War veteran from Tennessee. Edwards is a gregarious and mysterious man who catches the eye of every single woman in the county (maybe some of the married ones, too).
Meegwun Fairbrother (Avatar: The Last Airbender) plays Mitchell, a tenderhearted man and successful farmer who lives with his family in Kansas, where he built the most impressive homestead in the county.
Alyssa Wapanatǎhk (Peter Pan and Wendy) plays White Sun. White Sun is opinionated, beautiful, and has a sharp sense of humor. At times, she sees the world through a more cynical lens than her husband, Mitchell.
Wren Zhawenim Gotts (Echo) plays Good Eagle, the daughter of Mitchell and White Sun. Good Eagle is wildly imaginative and known as a storyteller in her family.
Xander Cole (People of the West, You Can Take It With You) plays Little Puma, White Sun’s younger brother. Little Puma is good-hearted, but bullheaded, and he’s trying to find his place in the world. He loves his big sister but also loves getting under her skin.
Ryan Robbins (Riverdale, Battlestar Galactica) plays Russell Kind, a rough and grizzled settler with a cynical worldview.
Barrett Doss (Station 19, The Noel Diary) plays Emily Henderson, a charming woman who excels at interacting with people and handling numbers, which enables her to run the general store. Emily kindly takes in Caleb, an orphan boy who wanders into town.
Mary Holland (Nightbitch, Senior Year) plays Jemma James, the wife of Eli James. Jemma is a confident woman who has an air of big city and is the town’s busybody.
Michael Hough (Chapelwaite, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) plays Eli James, Jemma James’ husband. Eli works for the railroad and is very supportive of the newcomers arriving.
Kowen Cadorath (SkyMed) plays Caleb, a skinny, prairie-handsome, preteen who has been orphaned and doesn’t say much. Emily, who runs the general store, takes Caleb in, and gives him a job.
Thosh Collins (IT: Welcome to Derry, Reservation Dogs) plays Louis, White Sun’s good-natured and levelheaded cousin.
Maclean Fish (Shoresy) plays Adam Scott, who is boyish and handsome but soft. He appears as though he hasn’t had a day of hardship in his life.
Rebecca Amzallag (Titans) plays Lacey Aubert, a beautiful and happily widowed outcast who owns a cardroom and bar on the edge of town.
Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries, Archive 81), like generations of readers and viewers before her who became engrossed in the adventures of the Ingalls family, is a lifelong fan.
“I fell deeply in love with these books when I was 5 years old,” said Sonnenshine. “They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new audience.”
Along with Sonnenshine, executive producers of the series include Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions, Dana Fox, and Susanna Fogel. Friendly’s father, Ed Friendly, produced the 1974 Little House television films and series that were broadcast on NBC from 1974 to 1984.
“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 Friendly, CEO of Friendly Family Productions.
Little House on the Prairie joins Netflix’s slate of wholesome and heartwarming stories for fans to cozy up with, including Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, My Life with the Walter Boys, and Ransom Canyon.
Since its original publication in the 1930s, the Little House 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 a half-century since the 1974 show first debuted, Nielsen reports 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’s vision threads the needle with an emotional depth that will delight both new and existing fans of this beloved classic.”
The show debuts July 9 on Netflix. Until then, you can spend a little more time on the prairie by revisiting the previously released teaser above.
Come on home to Little House on the Prairie and keep returning to Tudum for more updates on Laura, Mary, Ma, Pa, and the rest of the Ingalls family.
