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Paramount+ is staying in business with Jez Butterworth and 101 Studios. The streamer has ordered Laird to series, marking its third project from the team behind MobLand and The Agency.
Kenneth Branagh will star in and executive produce Laird, per Deadline. The drama series was created by Butterworth and his brother, fellow writer John-Henry Butterworth, who co-created together The Agency, as well as Georgia Lee.
Joe Wright is attached to direct the pilot. He previously helmed the first two episodes of The Agency for Paramount+. His other notable directorial credits include the films Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), Darkest Hour (2017), and Cyrano (2021).
Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire hellbent on buying up the glens. Amidst family feuds, buried secrets and star-crossed romances, the Laird of Castle Drummoch (Branagh) remains determined to protect his ancestral lands from oligarchical land grabbing.
Laird Is Perfect for Fans of Outlander
At first glance, Laird shares quite a few similarities with another show set in the Scottish Highlands: Outlander. While the acclaimed Starz show was not set in modern times (aside from a few scenes in the 1940s), it did deal with many Scottish customs. At least, it did until the show relocated to America for the remainder of its run.
As well, just as Branagh is set to play the Laird of Castle Drummoch, Outlander has its own laird. Sam Heughan's series protagonist, Jamie Fraser, was the Laird of Broch Tuarach, which was also known as Lallybroch.
So, while the similarities end there, audiences who don't want to watch the Outlander prequel Blood of My Blood, but still want to watch a Scottish drama, may want to give Laird a try.
"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."
MobLand Is About to Return on Paramount+
There's no word yet on when Laird might release on Paramount+. However, MobLand is set to return this September with its second season. A third season is also in development.
The logline for Season 2 notes, "The Harrigans, heads of North London’s largest criminal empire, are on the brink of civil war, and their rivals are starting to notice. As tensions within the Harrigan family intensify, their ‘fixer’ Harry Da Souza is the only one that can keep them from falling apart. "
The Agency and MobLand can currently be streamed on Paramount+.
