Even before the very first episode has a chance to premiere on the streaming platform, Netflix has already done the unimaginable: Little House on the Prairie has officially been renewed for a second season. While the announcement itself is surprising, as the already controversial reimagining of Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s iconic pioneer novels is not slated to premiere until July 9, it proves that Netflix not only has full confidence in Rebecca Sonnenshine‘s creative vision but also in its position to reinvigorate the Western genre.
‘Little House on the Prairie’ Has Already Been Renewed Before Season 1’s Premiere
Of course, Little House on the Prairie is already a popular and successful brand. Between the nine Wilder novels that launched the Ingalls craze and the original television series adaptation (which lasted nine seasons and several TV movies), there’s no doubt that this reimagining is aiming to last awhile. If Sonnenshine is going to adapt elements from all nine books to life, the show will certainly need all that extra time. As the showrunner put it in an official statement about the early renewal:
“I’m incredibly grateful to our wonderful cast and crew, who put their hearts and hard work into making our first season come alive. We can’t wait to share this new adaptation of the Little House books with the world, and we’re thrilled that Netflix is giving us the opportunity to continue the story.”
Partnered with an image from the first season of the Ingalls family as they travel across the open prairie in their covered wagon, this early renewal gives more hope that the streaming series actually will capture the spirit of what made Wilder’s semi-autobiographical novels so special. After all, we’ve not shied away from expressing our feelings about a “Little House reimagining,” and the potential dangers of such a departure. Considering the Sonnenshine-helmed production is bringing in brand-new characters and seemingly reworking some of the dynamics between the Ingalls family and the Native Americans, that’s still a fair concern. (Although from Luke Bracey‘s comments about Charles “Pa” Ingalls, it sounds like they’ve captured his essence correctly.)
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Netflix Rarely Renews Shows This Early, but Westerns Have Been Surging
If you hadn’t already guessed, it’s not common practice for a streamer like Netflix to renew shows ahead of their debut. In fact, Netflix is notorious for canceling its original programming soon after the release of a single season — or simply not ordering more content and leaving viewers wanting. Not only is this abnormal behavior for the streaming giant, but it says something about its clear commitment to exploring the historical American West.
This isn’t the first Western series that Netflix has put its full support behind. After saving Longmire from an impromptu cancellation years ago by giving the neo-Western drama three more seasons, Netflix has released several period and contemporary takes on the genre, from one-season hits like Godless and American Primeval to multi-season dramas like Frontier and Ransom Canyon (which has been renewed for a second season). Other Western television shows that have made it to the platform include The Abandons, Territory, and Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War, among others.
This support for the genre is unparalleled among most other streaming platforms (save only Paramount+, which is full of Taylor Sheridan-made horse operas), and is great news for fans of the genre who hope that this recent resurgence won’t fade into the sunset anytime soon. Maybe, if Little House on the Prairie is successful, it will only convince the streamer to invest more in frontier-style programs that will keep this Western revival going for years to come.
Little House on the Prairie is set to premiere on July 9 on Netflix.
- Release Date
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1974 – 1983
- Directors
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Victor French, William F. Claxton, Leo Penn, Alf Kjellin, Joseph Pevney, Lewis Allen, Maury Dexter, Michael Ray Rhodes
- Writers
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Arthur Heinemann, Chris Abbott, Paul W. Cooper, Dale Eunson, Jeri Taylor, John Meston, Del Reisman, Tony Kayden, Juanita Bartlett, Vince Gutierrez, Joel Murcott, John V. Hanrahan, Carole Raschella, Michael Raschella
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Melissa Gilbert
Laura Ingalls
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Michael Landon
Charles Ingalls
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Karen Grassle
Caroline Ingalls
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Melissa Sue Anderson
Mary Ingalls
