Paramount+ Scottish Highland Drama ‘Laird’ Adds Ruaridh Mollica, Holliday Grainger, Peter Mullan, Corey Mylchreest and More (EXCLUSIVE)
by Alex Ritman · Variety“Laird,” the upcoming Paramount+ series set and shot in the Scottish Highlands and starring Kenneth Branagh and Peter Sarsgaard, has rounded out its cast.
Jennifer Ehle (“Contagion,” “Zero Dark Thirty”), Peter Mullan (“I Swear,” “Ozark”), Phia Saban (“House of the Dragon,” “The Last Kingdom”), Ruaridh Mollica (“Vision Quest,” “Isle of Man”), Holliday Grainger (“Peter Melrose,” “Strike”), Douglas Hodge (“Legends,” “Joker”), and Corey Mylchreest (“Queen Charlotte,” “Hostage”) have joined the show, now in production.
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Created by Jez Butterworth (“MobLand,” “The Agency”), John-Henry Butterworth (“Nine Perfect Strangers,” “The Agency”) and Georgia Lee (“Destination, Mudtown”) and with Joe Wright (“Pride & Prejudice,” “Atonement”) set to direct the pilot, “Laird” is described as an “epic family saga.”
The story follows a proud Scot and Laird of Castle Drummoch (Branagh) who defies a shadowy American billionaire (Peter Sarsgaard) hellbent on buying up the glens. Amidst family feuds, buried secrets and star-crossed romances, he remains determined to protect his ancestral lands from oligarchical land grabbing.
The show is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. Branagh will executive produce alongside David C. Glasser, Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth, Wright, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox.
“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”
The series will premiere globally exclusively on Paramount+.