Paramount+ is betting on prestige drama with its order for "Laird," a Scottish Highland family saga that reunites the streaming service with Kenneth Branagh. The actor and director, who recently helmed the "Belfast" revival for the studio, will star as the Laird of Castle Drummoch, a landowner defending his ancestral territory against an American billionaire intent on acquiring the glens.
The project taps into Paramount+'s strategy of courting A-list talent for limited series and prestige content. Branagh's involvement signals the kind of heavyweight casting the studio uses to differentiate itself in the crowded streaming marketplace. His track record directing and starring in Shakespeare adaptations, plus his Oscar-winning work on "Belfast," gives "Laird" automatic cache with audiences seeking elevated storytelling.
The premise positions class conflict and land ownership at its center. A wealthy American businessman challenging a Scottish landowner carries thematic weight about globalization, heritage preservation, and power dynamics between old money institutions and new wealth. It's terrain well-suited to prestige television, where period drama and family intrigue draw the demographics advertisers and subscription services covet.
Paramount+ has leaned into this demographic with ambitious dramas like "Yellowstone" prequel "1883" and the "Star Trek" universe expansions. "Laird" slots into that strategy of flagship content designed to justify subscription costs. The Scottish setting and family saga elements echo the success of shows like "Outlander," which demonstrated audience appetite for Highland-set narratives with romantic and historical dimensions.
Details on other cast members, the creative team beyond Branagh, and production timeline remain sparse. But the order confirms Paramount+'s continued reliance on established directors and actors to anchor its original programming. For Branagh, it represents another major commitment to streaming after his success with "Belfast," signaling his comfort