MOVIE NEWS – MobLand showrunner Jez Butterworth has created a new series for Paramount+, with Kenneth Branagh set to star and serve as an executive producer. Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird will tell a family story involving land, legacy, power, and the expansion of an American billionaire.

Even though Paramount+ is one of the newer streamers in a crowded field of entertainment providers, it has found a highly successful strategy for developing new titles. When a creator delivers a hit movie or television series, the streamer attempts to establish itself as the primary destination for that creator’s other stories. The tremendous success Taylor Sheridan has brought to the platform is a clear example, including the Yellowstone franchise and its various spin-offs, along with Lawmen: Bass Reeves, Tulsa King, Special Ops: Lioness, and Landman, with even more projects on the way.

The streamer’s successes are not limited to shows created by Sheridan, however, as demonstrated by the Tom Hardy and Helen Mirren crime drama MobLand. In recent months, audiences have been waiting anxiously for updates about the next season, while various reports claimed that Hardy’s troublesome behavior on set could lead to his dismissal. Luckily, subsequent news indicated that the issues had apparently been resolved, allowing Hardy to return for Season 3.

Continuing the good news for fans of the type of stories offered by MobLand, showrunner Jez Butterworth has created the new Paramount+ series Laird, which will star Kenneth Branagh, who will also serve as an executive producer. Paramount+ describes the series: “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, played by Branagh, remains determined to protect his ancestral lands from oligarchical land grabbing.”

Co-creators alongside Butterworth are John-Henry Butterworth, known for Nine Perfect Strangers and The Agency, and Georgia Lee, whose credits include The 100 and Partner Track. Joe Wright, director of Darkest Hour and Hanna, is set to direct the pilot.

Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals for Paramount+, shared in a statement: “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.”

As evidenced by the show’s official description, Laird does not sound like it will scratch quite the same itch as MobLand, although the pedigree of the talent behind the series still provides plenty of reasons to be excited. With Season 2 of MobLand set to premiere this fall and Season 3 not yet having a release date, knowing that Paramount+ will deliver another potentially compelling series could make the wait for the later season a little easier.

Matt Thunell, President of Paramount Television Studios, added: “Jez, John-Henry, and Georgia have imagined a gripping drama that explores how far one family will go to protect their land and legacy. With Kenneth Branagh starring and Joe Wright directing, this is a singular creative team, and we are thrilled to once again partner with 101 Studios to bring this series to Paramount+.” Laird does not currently have a release date.

Source: MovieWeb