Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Finds Its Laura

by

Netflix’s take on Little House on the Prairie has cast its first role — and it’s a vital one.

Alice Halsey is set to portray Laura in the streaming adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s cherished books. This up-and-coming actress has previously been seen on Apple TV+ in ‘Lessons in Chemistry’, playing Brie Larson’s character’s daughter, and on Peacock in ‘Days of Our Lives’. She also made a guest appearance on NBC’s ‘Night Court’ and lent her voice to the Disney Junior series ‘Kindergarten: The Musical’.

Alice Halsey will play Laura in the adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books on a streaming service. She has acted before, notably as Brie Larson’s daughter in a show called ‘Lessons in Chemistry’, and she has been in other shows like ‘Days of Our Lives’, made a guest appearance on ‘Night Court’, and voiced a character in ‘Kindergarten: The Musical’.

The upcoming “Little House” television series is being produced by CBS Studios, Anonymous Content Studio, and showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine, who has previously worked on shows like “The Boys” and “The Vampire Diaries”. Netflix announced a series order for this production in January, marking the culmination of several years of development work by Anonymous Content and Paramount TV Studios (now defunct, with CBS Studios taking over their series and development last year).

For many years, the “Little House” book series, initially published in the 1930s, have been a mainstay in school libraries. They were also the basis for an NBC television show that aired from 1974 to 1983. The new Netflix series is portrayed as combining elements of family drama, survival saga, and exploration of the American West’s origins. It promises to provide a multifaceted perspective on the challenges and victories experienced by those who helped shape the frontier.

Regarding Laura, the character is portrayed as observant, affectionate, determined, and hot-tempered. She defies the conventional norms of 19th-century ladyhood; she enjoys running barefoot and basking in the sunlight. She is inquisitive, optimistic, and fearless, much like her father; resourceful, diligent, and honest, like her mother. She swiftly condemns anyone who is cruel or unjust. She loves passionately and unabashedly and is completely devoted to her dog, Jack. Some adults may find her annoying due to her numerous questions, vibrant personality, and boundless energy; however, to those who truly matter, she’s a beacon of light. She absorbs every detail that catches her eye, hoarding them for the stories she will one day reveal to the world.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to highlight that much like Halsey who’s now 10 years old, Melissa Gilbert was in the same age bracket when “Little House on the Prairie” first graced our TV screens on NBC. Melissa played the iconic role of Laura, starring alongside Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Sue Anderson, Sidney, and Rachel Greenbush as the Ingalls family in the series that ran from 1974 to 1983, with several follow-up TV movies. What an incredible journey!

Sonnenshine is overseeing the production of “Little House on the Prairie” alongside Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions, Dana Fox and Susanna Fogel. Notably, Trip Friendly is the son of Ed Friendly, who held rights to Wilder’s books and served as an executive producer in the original series. Sarah Adina Smith (“Lessons in Chemistry,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”) will helm the director’s chair for the premiere episode.

Read More

2025-05-02 18:24