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Watch: ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Stars Share the Major Way the Show Stayed True to the Books

There’s nothing like a little reboot.

Fifty-two years after Little House on the Prairie premiered, a new adaptation is debuting on Netflix July 9. Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the OG show ran from 1974 to 1983 and followed her American pioneer life with her family, including pa Charles Ingalls, ma Caroline Ingalls and sisters Mary Ingalls and Carrie Ingalls.

And if you loved those stories, the cast of the revival hopes you’ll hitch your wagon to this version too.

“I think that we want this to be an extension of the Little House world,” Alice Halsey, who inherited the role of Laura from Melissa Gilbert, recently explained to E! News’ Will Marfuggi. “You can love the books and the old series and hopefully you’ll love ours too.”

Still, there are some notable differences between the shows. Take Carrie, for instance. While the character was featured from the start of the original Emmy-winning series, she doesn’t make an appearance in season one of the Netflix program. Viewers will also meet characters who were in the books but not in the first TV show, including Dr. George Tann (Jocko Sims).

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Books Becoming TV Shows and Movies

And while the reboot’s creator Rebecca Sonnenshine told Netflix’s Tudum members of the Osage Nation were depicted from an “outside looking in” perspective in the books, the new show “give us insight into who they were and what they were going through, but not just as ideas; as people.” This is done through the introduction of new characters, including the Mitchell family consisting of William Mitchell (Meegwun Fairbrother), his wife White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatâhk) their daughter Good Eagle (Wren Zhawenim Gotts) and son Little Puma (Xander Cole).

Netflix

Little House on the Prairie season one is now streaming on Netflix. As the journey begins, brush up on the casts from the new and original series.

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix; Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Laura IngallsWhile Melissa Gilbert played pioneer girl Laura Ingalls on the original Little House on the Prairie show in the ’70s and ’80s, Alice Halsey (who you might recognize from Days of Our Lives, Lessons in Chemistry and Kindergarten: The Musical) is taking on the starring role in Netflix’s adaptation. And the OG actress—who went on to voice Batgirl on Batman: The Animated Series in the ’90s and star in holiday movies like Hometown Christmas and The Christmas Pageant—is supportive of this next adventure.”[The original] was Michael Landon‘s interpretation, and now it’s time for someone else’s interpretation. And I think there’s plenty of room for that,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2025. “And I think there’s a lot of other stories to mine beyond that. So I think this opens the door in a lot of ways for all kinds of Little House on the Prairie projects.”

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix; Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Charles Ingalls Just call Luke Bracey “Pa.” The Australian actor was cast as Laura’s father Charles Ingalls, who was first portrayed by the late Landon (also famous for Bonanza and Highway to Heaven). And Bracey—who played talent manager Jerry Schilling in Elvis as well as Smitty Ryker in Hacksaw Ridge—is excited to explore new territory on Little House on the Prairie.”The story is kind of looking out of the windows of the little house,” he explained to E! News, “and, in addition to that, we get to zoom out and kind of see the whole prairie for what it is.”

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Caroline IngallsAs for “Ma” Caroline Ingalls, she’s portrayed by Crosby Fitzgerald in the Netflix series after first being played by Karen Grassle (whose credits also include Not to Forget, Lasso andWyatt Earp) in the original series.And Fitzgerald—who previously appeared in Crime 101, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox and Palm Royale—thinks Little House on the Prairie book lovers will appreciate the new TV series.”I think this does a really fun job of adapting the books pretty closely,” the actress told E! News, “and then also using history and just this vast view of the American West at that time.”

Eric Zachanowich/Netflix; Nbc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Mary IngallsSpeaking of the novels, Skywalker Hughes—who is taking on the role of Laura’s big sister Mary Ingalls—is quite familiar with them.”I completely grew up on the books,” the actress—whose résumé also includes Joe Pickett, Ordinary Angels and I, Object—added. “I started reading when I was probably 3, I think, and those were the main book series that I read over and over and over again.”In the original Little House on the Prairie show, Mary was played by Melissa Sue Anderson, who also acted in Happy Birthday to Me, 10.5: Apocalypse and The Equalizer.

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Mr. EdwardsIn the Netflix adaptation, Warren Christie plays John Edwards, a Civil War veteran from Tennessee. There was a John Sanderson Edwards in the first Little House on the Prairie series, who was a writer and at one point Mary’s fiancé. However, the character (who was played by Radames Pera) appeared in only a few episodes.But Isaiah Edwards—a frontiersman from Tennessee who was known as Mr. Edwards in the books—was a much more prominent character. He was played by the late Victor French, who also acted in Highway to Heaven, Carter Country, Gunsmoke and An Officer and a Gentleman.As for Christie, his previous credits include Apollo 18, The Watchful Eye, Alphas and Motive.

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Nellie OlesonYou’ll have to wait until season two to meet some other familiar faces from Little House on the Prairie—like Laura’s rival Nellie Oleson.In the original series, she was played by Alison Arngrim. In addition to being an actress (later appearing in Buster Brooks, Livin’ On a Prairie and Life Interrupted), Arngrim is an author, whose books include Confessions of a Prairie B–ch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated.On the Netflix show, the character is portrayed by Willa Dunn, who’s also appeared in The Runarounds, Only Murders in the Building, Poker Face and Coup!.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Mrs. OlesonNellie’s mother will also appear in season two.On the OG series, Nellie’s mom was named Harriet Oleson. She was played by the late Katherine MacGregor, who also had a successful theater career and appeared in productions like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Delicate Balance.But in the new series, Nellie’s mother’s name has been changed to Margaret Oleson. The role will be taken on by Charlotte Sullivan, whom fans may recognize from Rookie Blue, The Kennedys, Two for the Win and 12 Pups of Christmas.

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Eva BeadleTeacher Eva Beadle will make her debut in season two as well.Originally played by Charlotte Stewart (whose credits also include Eraserhead, Tremors and Twin Peaks), the part will now be played by Rachelle Lefevre. Viewers may have seen her in the Hallmark movies The Secrets of Bella Vista and Moriah’s Lighthouse, the TV series Proven Innocent and the Twilight franchise, in which she played Victoria.

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