By JUDY SLOANE

HOLLYWOOD-Writer, showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, The Vampire Diaries,) has found her dream job, bringing Laura Ingalls Wilder’s series of classic novels, the Little House books, to a new generation with Netflix, premiering on July 9, 2026.  “Little House on the Prairie” tells Ingalls’ firsthand account of her family, moving through the American frontier to establish a new life for themselves.

The iconic TV series of the same name ran on NBC from 1974 to 1984, starring Michael Landon as Pa, Karen Grassle as Ma, Melissa Gilbert as Laura and Melissa Sue Anderson as Mary. Netflix’s new cast includes Luke Bracey (Elvis, Hacksaw Ridge) as Pa; Crosby Fitzgerald (Crime 101, Palm Royale) as Ma; Alice Halsey (Lessons in Chemistry, Days of Our Lives) as Laura Ingalls and Skywalker Hughes (I, Object) as Mary Ingalls.

Members of the TV Critics Association spoke with Rebecca Sonnenshine about her exciting, new adaption of the material, which has already been picked-up for a second season by Netflix.

Q: Were you familiar with the books?

Rebecca Sonnenshine: I grew up reading these books. I got my first book from my cousin Laura when I was five. It’s when I learned how to read. And they became my whole personality. I was [a] Little House on the Prairie girl. I read them probably a hundred times. I still remember them. This is a dream come true for me.

Q: Why did you want to remake a series that is so iconic in the TV landscape?

Rebecca Sonnenshine: It is an incredible series. It’s so special to people. But we’re doing a new adaptation of the books, and so that’s our source material.

We are privileged to have the opportunity to do that because they’re some of the greatest pieces of American literature that have ever been written, in my opinion. They certainly were influential on me. They set me on my path in life, so the opportunity to adapt [the] work; it creates something new, we get a different perspective on both the material that we’re adapting and the times we’re living in; and the times that it was written about. It’s a really wonderful opportunity to explore this time in American history from the present, how it shaped us and who we are today.

Q: What are the primary differences between your take and Michael Landon’s?

Rebecca Sonneshine: I can tell you our take as a group, we’re a community of people making this show. All the incredible people working on the show, the production design, the costumes, the set decoration and the cinematography, everybody is so committed to bring what you feel when you read the books to life. We always have the books open in the production office. We’ve got Garth Williams illustrations hanging up. Our approach is to really capture the feeling of what it is to read the books.

Q: I’m four episodes in, and they’re still in Kansas. When do you get to Walnut Grove, and how much time will you spend there?

Rebecca Sonneshine: The intention is absolutely to follow the books.  They moved around a lot. The Ingalls were always on the move. So that is a very exciting element of our show. And when you get to the end of the season, you’ll know where they’re going.

Q: There’s more tension between the family members than there was in the original TV series, even Mary and Laura go at it a little bit.  Why was it important to show that dimension that we didn’t see as much in the original series?

Rebecca Sonnenshine: I think those things are absolutely rooted in the books. The relationship between Mary and Laura throughout the series of books is ever evolving. Everybody has these petty fights with their siblings.

They’re each other’s best friends and also each other’s worst enemy.  That’s just what it means to have a sibling that you’re close to. And [in] the books it’s a very central relationship. I would say that Laura’s most important relationship in her life was with Mary. That sibling relationship persisted and changed as they got older, and as their circumstances changed. It’s really coming to life in this season, and hopefully beyond.

Q: Is the goal to have the show back every year?

Rebecca Sonneshine: To release it every year. You know, the kids grow …  fast. So that’s our goal, to keep this train on the tracks and keep making amazing stories and getting it out to people as soon as we can.

Q: Did Netflix come to you and say how can you deliver this every year? Because it is obviously a big, successful model that we’re seeing in our industry with “The Pitt.”

Rebecca Sonneshine: I think we came to that decision as we were coming to the end of the first season, that we would be able to achieve this where we’re shooting, and by getting the scripts ready to go, and being able to wrap up post in a good amount of time. We  put together a schedule that we feel like we can [achieve.] It’s very challenging because we are moving around a lot. But yeah, we’re very confident that we can deliver.

Q: And where are you in the season three process? Obviously, I know there hasn’t been a formal green light, but have you started outlining or pitching any of those things?

Rebecca Sonneshine: Only in my mind.  [she laughs]