TV's iconic "Little House on the Prairie" series about wholesome values is headed toward a new movie with Paramount Pictures.
Adaptation of the TV series previously was in development at Sony, which picked up the project in 2012 with Scott Rudin to produce, notes The Hollywood Reporter. The title was put into turnaround last year.
The project now includes filmmaker Sean Durkin as director, as well as scriptwriter Abi Morgan.
Little House aired on NBC from 1974 to 1983, and starred Michael Landon as the patriarch of a pioneer family living in the 1880s in the American Midwest, Walnut Grove, Minn., to be exact. The show was loosely based on the classic series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, who framed it from her childhood. Melissa Gilbert played Laura Wilder on the show. The show's title refers to the third book in the series, which has remained continuously in print since it was first published beginning in the 1930s.
Little House explored a few themes, including adoption, alcoholism, racism and blindness. Some plots also included subjects such as drug addiction, leukemia, prejudice and even rape. Although predominantly a drama, the program had some comedic moments as well.
Many of the surviving cast members reunited on Today in 2014 to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary.
No new actors have been announced yet, reports Today.
Fans already are expressing concerns online about whether the movie will be an adaptation of the book series, or just of the TV interpretation. Barbara A. Drescher stated on Facebook she finds it really odd they plan to adapt the TV show. "The books would make a much, much better movie (or series of movies) and they've never really been done right. The TV show only followed the books for a few episodes," she noted.
Another fan, Shirley Parton, said a movie won't be any good. Nothing is as good as the original. That's why Michael Landon destroyed and blew up the set that he used when he wrote and directed and created the town of Walnut Grove. Go watch the last film he did, and you'll see at the end where he blows up all the town, Little House: The Last Farewell (TV Movie 1984), because he did not want copycat Hollywood to use his dream and his setting of the town of Walnut Grove. So Sorry Hollywood."
Mary Pauline Mahaydik posted, "While the film certainly won't be as great as the series; I'm looking forward to seeing it and wonder why a film of some sort hasn't been done earlier."
