In this month's faith & family media news: Netflix plans a Little House on the Prairie reboot; HGTV wants to spend a lot more time in the Napiers' Home Town; and Prime Video opens the doors to the House of David.
Big Little House News
Streamer Netflix has greenlit a new TV-series adaptation of the beloved book series Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Showrunner/executive producer is Rebecca Sonnenshine (previously of Prime Video's rogue-superhero show The Boys, and The CW's Vampire Diaries). Among those joining her as executive producer is Trip Friendly of Friendly Family Productions, the son of Ed Friendly, who produced the original 1974-'83 TV series.
The official logline reads:
“Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical ‘Little House’ books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”
From Deadline.com:
“It has been a long-held dream of mine to carry on my father’s legacy and adapt Wilder’s classic American stories for a 21st century audience in a way that brings together fans of both the books and the original television series,” said Friendly in a statement. “I am thrilled by our talented creative team led by Rebecca Sonnenshine who are bringing these beloved stories about family, community, and survival to longtime fans and new generations.”
“I fell deeply in love with these books when I was five years old,” added Sonnenshine. “They inspired me to become a writer and a filmmaker, and I am honored and thrilled to be adapting these stories for a new global audience with Netflix.”
The new version from CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studios is expected to follow Charles, his wife Caroline and their daughters Laura and Mary as they leave Wisconsin to settle in Independence, KS. There will be Osage characters, as the first season is based on the book Little House on the Prairie.
Returning to the Napiers' Home Town
Running since 2016, HGTV's Home Town has featured the efforts of Laurel, Mississippi, couple the Napiers -- Ben (a woodworker and former youth minister) and Erin (an artist and graphic designer) -- to revitalize their beloved hometown by finding new owners for its houses and remodeling the properties.
Along the way, they've worked through the birth of two daughters and a burgeoning home-renovation empire, which has included such spinoff shows as Home Town: Ben's Workshop, Home Town Takeover (in which the Napiers spearheaded the revitalizing of many properties in one town) and Home Town Kickstart.
From Variety:
“Home Town” stars and celebrity renovation experts Ben and Erin Napier have re-upped their exclusive talent deal at HGTV. As part of the pact, the show will be extended for 32 more episodes shooting through 2027.
... The Napiers added in a joint statement: “The HGTV family is where we belong. Shows are often impermanent but ‘Home Town’ endures, we think, because it lives on a network that teaches and gives comfort to people. It’s more than pretty houses. That’s something we are proud to be part of.”
This also means more from Home Town Takeover. From Collider:
This season, which will premiere Sunday, March 9, at 8 p.m., will take them to historic Sebring, Florida, where they will renovate the whole town and take on over a dozen renovation projects to access homes, local businesses, and public spaces, and reinvigorate the struggling lakeside community. However, no one said that renovating a town is easy, and this season, their job is tougher than ever.
The HGTV couple will take on Sebring, Florida, which has a history of hurricane damage, meaning that their jobs this time will be harder than before. Because of the hurricane damage, there is an excess of empty storefronts and ruins in a downtown shopping district that was once bustling with life. Despite being home to one of the nation’s oldest raceways, spectators leave without visiting local businesses. With the HGTV superstars, they will turn Sebring around.
Here's a peek at a recent episode:
Entering the House of David
Prime Video has released the first trailer for House of David, a new Biblical series from The Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios. Among the producers are Jon Erwin (Jesus Revolution, American Underdog) and Jon Gunn (Ordinary Angels, the upcoming Unbreakable Boy).
The first three episodes premiere Feb. 27 on Prime Video, with subsequent episodes premiering weekly.
From Variety:
In the story, David becomes the King of Israel, along the way taking on Goliath (Martin Ford) and navigating love and loss to fulfill his ultimate destiny despite starting off as an outcast teenager. Alongside Iskander, the cast includes Ali Suliman (“Jack Ryan”) as King Saul, Ayelet Zurer (“Angels and Demons”) as Queen Ahinoam, and Stephen Lang (“Avatar: The Way of Water”) as Samuel.
... The show is based on an idea by Erwin with Dallas Jenkins, the creator and producer-director of “The Chosen,” serving as shareholder and special advisor to Wonder Project.
Take a look:
Image: Shutterstock
Kate O’Hare, a longtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Content Manager and Blog Editor at Family Theater Productions.
Recent posts:
The Merry Beggars: Changing the Map in Family Entertainment
Peacock's 'Here Come the Irish' Tracks Notre Dame's Championship Run
How One Word in the Our Father Changed Hallow Founder Alex Jones' Life
'Creating Sacred Beauty' Explores the Hearts of Artists Honoring God
Keep up with Family Theater Productions on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.