International production returns spotlight to the Highland landscape
Paramount+ has greenlit Laird, a drama series set in the Scottish Highlands that will star and be executive produced by Kenneth Branagh. The announcement places a major international streamer and high-profile creative team on a story rooted in themes of land, legacy and outside pressure on rural estates.
The series, created by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Georgia Lee, follows the laird of Castle Drummoch, portrayed by Branagh, as he resists an American billionaire seeking to buy up the surrounding glens. Paramount+ described the project as an epic family saga exploring family feuds, hidden secrets and romances set against a contemporary Scottish backdrop.
"At its heart, 'Laird' is about one man standing his ground against unchecked wealth and power,"
Jane Wiseman, head of originals at Paramount+, said this in a statement, underlining the production's central conflict between local stewardship and outside capital.
Creative team and production partners
The pilot is set to be directed by Joe Wright, a two-time BAFTA-winning filmmaker known for titles including Pride & Prejudice, Atonement and Darkest Hour. Production companies attached are Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. Branagh will serve as an executive producer alongside a list of industry figures including David C. Glasser, the Butterworth brothers, Wright and others.
- Lead actor and executive producer: Kenneth Branagh
- Creators: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Georgia Lee
- Director (pilot): Joe Wright
- Production: Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios
Local implications and unanswered details
While Paramount+ has not announced a release date, the greenlight confirms the series will premiere globally on the streamer. The choice of a Highland setting and a plot focused on land purchase by an overseas billionaire is likely to resonate in local conversations about land ownership, estate management and the impact of external investment on rural communities.
For Highland communities, such productions can bring both opportunities and disruption: location filming can create short-term employment, demand for local services and increased profile for nearby areas, but it can also raise concerns about representation, access and the longer-term effects of heightened attention. The announcement does not specify filming locations, casting beyond Branagh, or production schedules.
Paramount+ and 101 Studios have worked with the Butterworths and others on large-scale drama before, and company executives framed the series as a further example of that collaboration. As the project moves from development into production, local authorities, landowners and community groups may seek clarity on where shoots will take place and what benefits will accrue to Highland communities.
| Detail | Information from announcement |
|---|---|
| Title | Laird |
| Setting | Scottish Highlands (Castle Drummoch) |
| Lead | Kenneth Branagh (also executive producer) |
| Pilot director | Joe Wright |
| Studios | Paramount Television Studios, 101 Studios |
As further production details emerge — including shooting locations, local hiring plans and community engagement — they will be of direct interest to Highland residents and organisations who monitor and manage land use and cultural representation.
