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Paramount+ Greenlights Laird Starring Kenneth Branagh

The order pairs Branagh with Jez and John‑Henry Butterworth and director Joe Wright and signals Paramount+ is doubling down on high‑profile prestige drama.

Overview

  • Paramount+ officially greenlit the series on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, announcing Kenneth Branagh will star as the Laird of Castle Drummoch and serve as an executive producer.
  • The series was created by Jez Butterworth, John‑Henry Butterworth and Georgia Lee, with Joe Wright attached to direct the pilot and listed as an executive producer.
  • Laird is described as an epic family saga about a Scottish laird who fights an American billionaire trying to buy up the glens, centering on land, legacy and concentrated wealth.
  • Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios will produce the show and Paramount+ will distribute it globally, but no production start date or premiere date has been announced.
  • Industry context: the greenlight arrives as Jez Butterworth’s overall deal at Paramount is set to end later in 2026 with a planned move to Universal, a shift that could affect the project’s timeline or partnerships.