Showrunner for Upcoming ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reboot Says the Books Inspired Her to Become a Writer
TV fans love reboots. Netflix is hoping that viewers will really love a reboot of Little House on the Prairie. The streaming giant is set to reimagine the beloved classic about the Ingalls family and their life on a farm on Plum Creek. The original series, loosely based on semi-autobiographical books penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder, aired from 1974 until 1983. The concept is close to the newly-named showrunner, Rebecca Sonnenshine’s heart. She says the books inspired her to become a writer and filmmaker.
New ‘Little House on the Prairie’ showrunner says the books inspired her career
It should come as no surprise that Netflix is planning to reboot Little House on the Prairie. Streaming service providers have leaned heavily on nostalgia and continued interest when picking out shows to reboot. Max hit the jackpot with a reboot of Sex and the City, and Netflix found a hit in a revival of Gilmore Girls that way. While Little House on the Prairie is markedly different from those shows, it has the markings of success. Despite going off the air over 40 years ago, it has retained loyal viewers and continues to amass new fans. The show and books have inspired many over the years, and Rebecca Sonnenshine is one of them.
The showrunner caught up with Variety after she was attached to the project for a chat and revealed just how meaningful the project is to her. She told the publication that the books “inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker.” Sonnenshine went on to say she was honored to get the chance to adapt the beloved books and series for Netflix.
Sonnenshine is known for her work on Archive 81 and The Boys. She served as an executive producer and writer on both projects. Sonnenshine was also the showrunner on Archive 81. She penned more than a dozen episodes of The Vampire Diaries, as well.
The show has a filming schedule but no premiere date yet
While Netflix is moving quickly on a new interpretation of the classic frontier TV show, it has not announced an official release date yet. The series, however, does have a filming date. The cast will be on set sooner rather than later.
According to Deadline, the upcoming Little House on the Prairie reboot will begin filming in Winnipeg in June. Production is expected to run through October. The filming location is markedly different from where the original series was filmed, but may be truer to the show’s setting.
The original Little House on the Prairie was filmed in Simi Valley, California. The series, however, was set in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. If you think about it, Winnipeg is much closer to the actual setting of the series than California. Winnipeg is seven hours north of where the series is set. Southern California, where much of the filming occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, is more than 1,700 miles away.
