Kenneth Branagh 2026 headshot / Johan Persson
Kenneth Branagh has been announced as the lead in Laird, a new “epic family saga” set in the Scottish Highlands for Paramount+.
The veteran actor and filmmaker will also executive produce the series, which comes from brothers Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, who previously collaborated on The Agency for the streamer.
In a plot that has echoes of President Donald Trump’s golfing interests in Scotland, a synopsis for the show reads: “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.”
Jane Wiseman, head of originals at Paramount+, said: “At its heart, Laird is about one man standing his ground against unchecked wealth and power.
“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.”
Laird is expected to be released on Paramount+ globally in 2027.
