Alison Arngrim recently addressed concerns about Netflix’s plans for a Little House on the Prairie reboot, of which she starred in the original as Nellie Oleson. During a chat with Fox News Digital, she assured fans of the classic that they have nothing to worry about with the ensuing plot.
The streaming platform previously hinted at bringing Little House on the Prairie back to screens, but like Arngrim, even those working on the project hesitate to call it a reboot. The team behind the show has openly clarified that they are not trying to remake the 1970s series.
How is the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ reboot different from the original?
Arngrim explained that one of the biggest differences between the original and the upcoming reboot is how the stories are being approached. The original series was shaped significantly by Michael Landon, who made significant creative additions that were not part of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books— characters like Albert Ingalls, for instance, were entirely his creations.
Even Arngrim’s own character, Nellie Oleson, was a combination of three different girls from the Wilder’s world. She acknowledged that the original cast and crew had a unique chemistry that cannot be replicated, calling Landon’s vision magic.
‘Little House on the Prairie’ reboot will be based on the original novel
One of the key aspects of the new adaptation is its commitment to staying faithful to Wilder’s books. Arngrim confirmed that this version will return to the very beginning, focusing on Laura Ingalls’ childhood in the American West during the late 1800s.
The book was originally published in the 1930s during the Great Depression, and it captured the hardships and joys of pioneer life through Laura’s perspective. Rebecca Sonnenshine, known for her work on The Boys and The Vampire Diaries, has been named showrunner and executive producer.