Meet the New Cast of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ — One Star Is Already Being Called ‘Perfect’ for the Role

But some other details have become known, including a debate over a casting choice, how a former cast member challenged the framing of the show’s legacy, and the spotlight put on a young new cast member over a newly created awards category.

The news has led to immediate responses. Viewers have commented on casting accuracy and character portrayal, with strong early reactions from social media users.

A New Adaptation with Familiar Foundations

In January 2025, Netflix confirmed that a new series based on “Little House on the Prairie” was in development. The announcement introduced the series as a fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s original books, not a reboot of the 1974–1983 television version.

According to the official logline shared with the press, the show will combine elements of family drama, frontier survival, and historical origin storytelling set in the American West. At the time of the announcement, no casting or production timeline was disclosed.

Netflix confirmed only that the series would be a full-season order and emphasized that it would draw more directly from Wilder’s texts. In the weeks following Netflix’s announcement, several cast members from the original 1970s series shared their thoughts on the new adaptation.

Original Stars Weigh In on the Remake

In February 2025, Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls in the original series, addressed the upcoming adaptation in response to remarks from Megyn Kelly that criticized the direction of the project.

Gilbert hadn’t originally planned to comment, but felt compelled to set the record straight once misinformation began to circulate. She emphasized that the new series was not a continuation of the original, but an entirely separate production.

She said, “There’s no reason to capture the spirit of the original at all. I’m hoping, and from what I understand, is that the remake will hew closer to the books than we did.” She explained that the stories in the original show were more socially conscious than some people now acknowledge.

According to Gilbert, denying this element misrepresents what the show was about. The 1970s series frequently addressed real issues of the time through the lens of the 1870s setting, including themes like racism and nativism.

These storylines were part of why the show had a resurgence in 2020 during a period of national reflection. Gilbert stepped in not for political reasons but because of what she felt were misleading claims.

She reminded fans that Michael Landon, the show’s creator and executive producer, guided the series into tackling meaningful issues. Gilbert mused over what Landon would have thought if he were alive today and heard the criticism being leveled at the show’s legacy.

The actress hoped the new series would remain closer to Wilder’s original books than her version did. In her view, the original series had taken liberties with its portrayal of the Ingalls family, stating, “We really twisted the true story around quite a bit.”

She felt that the original series was often mislabeled as politically neutral, despite tackling social themes and believed the books still held untapped potential.

Gilbert saw no need to try to imitate the tone or style of the 1970s show, and while she didn’t completely rule out being involved in the future, she expressed skepticism about any potential crossover between the two versions.

At the time of her interview, Gilbert was already working on other projects, including an off-Broadway play in New York and a guest role on the Hallmark series “When Calls the Heart.” She was also continuing to grow her lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie.

Karen Grassle, who played Caroline Ingalls, had earlier spoken to the same publication in June 2024 about previous remake attempts, including musicals and stage adaptations. She said, “There have been lots of attempts to do a ‘Little House on the Prairie’ again… and I think we had a unique experience and it can’t be repeated.”

Grassle credited Landon with the show’s success, describing him as a skilled writer and producer who understood what the public was drawn to. Her thoughts were that the show’s casting had been a key part of its appeal, and their group had been perfectly matched for the roles they played.

Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson, also weighed in during a February 2025 interview with ReMIND. She said fans were strongly divided, with some thrilled about the remake and others adamantly opposed to touching the original at all.

She described the reaction as a mix of celebration and outrage, explaining that some people saw it as the return of a classic, while others considered the original untouchable.

Arngrim, however, supported the new adaptation and clarified that the upcoming Netflix series wasn’t a reboot in the traditional sense, but a reimagining of the original source material.

She referred to it as part of the “Laura Ingalls Wilder multiverse” and confirmed that she and her former castmates Dean Butler and Rachel Lindsay Greenbush were not upset by the development. As the legacy cast made their positions clear, audiences waited to see who would take on the familiar roles in the new production.

Casting News Renews the Conversation

In early May 2025, Netflix released its first major update since the initial series order by confirming the actors who would portray members of the Ingalls family. The announcement confirmed four names attached to the roles of Charles, Caroline, Mary, and Laura.

Viewer responses followed soon after. One comment read, “This cast is giving me major nostalgia feels,” while another said, “Can’t wait to see this new take on a timeless classic.” One thought of it as an “Exciting cast!”

Others expressed concern over how well the new portrayals would reflect the original book descriptions. Much of the early discussion focused on character accuracy, including physical traits such as hair and eye color. Attention quickly turned to one specific member of the cast, whose role carried some of the highest expectations.

Praise and Scrutiny for the New Laura

Among the newly announced cast, Alice Halsey was confirmed in the role of Laura Ingalls. Halsey has previous experience in voice acting and television. She appeared in “Kindergarten: The Musical,” voiced characters in animated productions, and played supporting roles in “Lessons in Chemistry” and NBC’s continuation of “Night Court.”

On January 2, Halsey also shared on Instagram that she would be joining “Days of Our Lives” as Rachel Black, with her episodes scheduled to begin airing in April. After her casting as Laura was confirmed, viewer comments appeared across platforms, particularly on Instagram.

Responses included, “You are perfect for this,” “So excited and can’t wait to see you as Laura Ingalls!! 👏❤️,”�and “They made a great choice when they picked you.” However, not all responses were favorable.

On Facebook, several users focused on visual discrepancies between Halsey’s appearance and the description of Laura in the original books. One wrote, “Blue eyes? Boo.” Another said, “I know blue eyes, I thought hmm, maybe she’ll wear contacts to make them brown.”

While some complimented her “Beautiful blue eyes,” others used the comment sections to debate whether visual traits should factor into casting decisions for literary adaptations. Her casting generated visible engagement across multiple platforms following the announcement.

Mary’s Casting Raises Questions

Skywalker Hughes was announced as the new Mary Ingalls in Netflix’s cast reveal. Hughes, a dual American-Canadian performer, began her professional acting career in 2021 with a regular role on the Paramount+ series “Joe Pickett.”

Since then, she has appeared in multiple television and film projects, including “Accused,” “Ordinary Angels,” and the Andrew Niccol feature “I, Object.” In April 2025, weeks before the casting announcement, Hughes was named a nominee in the new Youth Voice category at the 23rd ACTRA Awards in Toronto.

She was recognized for her work as Sonia Manzano in the animated program “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.” The awards ceremony was scheduled to take place on May 8, less than a week after the “Little House on the Prairie” cast announcement.

Following the reveal, some viewers took to social media to comment on Hughes’ physical appearance in relation to the character of Mary. One Facebook user wrote, “I just saw the new Mary. Brown hair and eyes — now I’ve lost faith it will be close to the books.” Two more actors were also introduced as Charles and Caroline Ingalls, completing the new Ingalls family.

Charles and Caroline Ingalls Cast

Luke Bracey was cast as Charles Ingalls. Born in Sydney, Australia, Bracey began his acting career in 2009 with a role on the long-running soap opera “Home and Away.” He later appeared in “Dance Academy” and made his American film debut in “Monte Carlo” (2011).

His subsequent work includes roles in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” “The Best of Me,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” and “Elvis.” Bracey once revealed that he prefers to keep a low profile and avoids the Hollywood spotlight, choosing instead to focus on his work and maintain a private life outside the industry scene.

Crosby Fitzgerald was named as Caroline Ingalls. Her screen credits include appearances in “Palm Royale,” “The First Lady,” and “Abbott Elementary.”

With the full Ingalls family now introduced, the next phase of the series rollout is expected to offer the first official look at how Netflix plans to bring the frontier world of Walnut Grove to life once again.