Paramount+ has greenlit ‘Laird’, a new Scottish Highlands drama starring Kenneth Branagh (Mayday, Oppenheimer) as a landowner battling to protect his ancestral home from an extremely wealthy and determined outsider.
Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, the series follows the proud Laird of Castle Drummoch, played by Branagh, as he stands against a shadowy American billionaire who is hellbent on buying up the surrounding glens.
Alongside the battle against oligarchical land grabbing, ‘Laird’ will weave together family feuds, buried secrets and star-crossed romances. Protecting the estate, it seems, will require considerably more than putting up a strongly worded “Not For Sale” sign.
The series was created by Jez Butterworth (MobLand, The Agency), John-Henry Butterworth (Nine Perfect Strangers, The Agency) and Georgia Lee (The 100, Partner Track), and is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios.
Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Darkest Hour, Cyrano) is attached to direct the pilot.
Branagh will executive produce alongside David C. Glasser, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Joe Wright, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch and Keith Cox.
“At its heart, Laird is about one man standing his ground against unchecked wealth and power,” said Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals for Paramount+. “There’s something universally resonant about watching someone fight to protect what matters most, and with Kenneth Branagh leading the series, and an equally remarkable creative team, we can’t wait for audiences to root for the Laird of Castle Drummoch”
“Jez, John-Henry, and Georgia have imagined a gripping drama that explores how far one family will go to protect their land and legacy,” said Matt Thunell, President, Paramount Television Studios. “With Kenneth Branagh starring and Joe Wright directing, this is a singular creative team, and we are thrilled to once again partner with 101 Studios to bring this series to Paramount+.”
“Working with Jez and John Henry has been such an incredible experience these last few years. I couldn’t be more thrilled to take another epic journey with them,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
Branagh is an Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor, writer and director. His recent credits include Oppenheimer, alongside his work directing and starring in the Hercule Poirot films Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile and A Haunting in Venice. He also won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Belfast.
‘Laird’ joins a growing selection of upcoming Paramount+ dramas, including ‘Fear Not’, starring Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables, The Devil Wears Prada), ‘9/12’, starring Jeremy Strong (Succession, The Apprentice), and ‘Discretion’, starring Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies, Lioness) and Elle Fanning (The Great, A Complete Unknown).
No additional casting or production schedule has been announced.
‘Laird’ will premiere globally exclusively on Paramount+. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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