Branagh Fights for Scottish Land
Kenneth Branagh Stars in Paramount+'s Laird, A Scottish Saga of Land and Legacy
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Key Points
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Headlines indicate Laird is being pitched as Paramount+'s Scottish replacement for Yellowstone, signaling a strategic shift for the streamer.
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The executive producer roster extends beyond Branagh and the Butterworths to include David C. Glasser, Joe Wright, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox.
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Paramount+ officially greenlit Laird on July 22, signaling formal production commitment for the series.
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Joe Wright is attached to direct the pilot and is described as a two-time BAFTA-winning filmmaker, with notable work including Darkest Hour.
Kenneth Branagh is set to star in Laird, a new drama series ordered by Paramount+ and set in the modern Scottish Highlands. TV Tonight reports the show follows the Laird of Castle Drummoch, a proud Scot fighting to save his ancestral lands from a shadowy American billionaire determined to buy up the glens.
Paramount+ officially greenlit the series on July 22. Head Topics describes it as an epic family saga of land, legacy, and conflict — and the streamer is positioning Laird as its Scottish answer to the cultural footprint of Yellowstone.
Branagh Takes On Unchecked Wealth and Power
Branagh will also serve as executive producer on the series. SEENIT notes the show is created by Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth — the brothers behind the acclaimed stage play Jerusalem — alongside writer Georgia Lee. The story centers on one man standing against the force of extreme American money flooding into the Scottish countryside.
The Laird of Castle Drummoch is described as a figure rooted in tradition and duty. He faces not just financial pressure but a fight for the soul of his community. Head Topics calls it a gripping saga that pits local legacy against global wealth.
Joe Wright and the Butterworths Lead a Star Creative Team
Joe Wright is attached to direct the pilot episode. Wright is a two-time BAFTA-winning filmmaker best known for Darkest Hour and Atonement. His involvement signals serious production ambition for the series from the start.
The executive producer roster is deep. Beyond Branagh and the Butterworths, TV Tonight lists David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox among the producers. Production companies 101 Studios and Paramount Television Studios are backing the project.
Paramount+ Bets on Scotland After Yellowstone's Dominance
Yellowstone turned the American frontier ranching drama into a cultural phenomenon for Paramount+. Now the streamer wants to replicate that formula in a very different landscape. Head Topics reports Laird is being pitched internally as a spiritual successor — swapping Montana plains for Highland glens.
The billionaire-versus-local-landowner conflict gives the show a sharp modern edge. Large parts of the Scottish Highlands are already owned by wealthy foreign buyers in real life. That backdrop makes the story feel timely and grounded, not just fictional.
Branagh Brings Shakespeare Stage and Screen Prestige
Kenneth Branagh is one of Britain's most decorated actor-directors. He earned an Oscar nomination for Belfast in 2022 and has directed and starred in multiple Shakespeare adaptations. His casting brings immediate prestige and global name recognition to the project.
SEENIT notes Branagh's role as both star and executive producer gives him creative control over the series. That kind of dual role — seen in prestige dramas like Big Little Lies — often signals a passion project built around a specific vision rather than a standard studio commission.
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