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Paramount+ has greenlighted a 3rd bid from Jez Butterworth and 101 Studios, nan squad down nan streamer’s MobLand and The Agency. Titled The Lair, it stars Kenneth Branagh (Mayday, Oppenheimer) who besides executive produces.
The Laird was created by Jez Butterworth and his brother, chap writer John-Henry Butterworth, who co-created together The Agency, arsenic good arsenic Partner Track developer Georgia Lee. Joe Wright, who helmed nan first 2 episodes of The Agency, is attached to nonstop nan pilot.
Set successful nan modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga successful which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire hellbent connected buying up nan glens. Amidst family feuds, buried secrets and star-crossed romances, nan Laird of Castle Drummoch (Branagh) remains wished to protect his ancestral lands from oligarchical onshore grabbing.
“At its heart, Laird is astir 1 man opinionated his crushed against unchecked wealthiness and power,” said Jane Wiseman, Head of Originals for Paramount+. “There’s thing universally resonant astir watching personification conflict to protect what matters most, and pinch Kenneth Branagh starring nan series, and an arsenic singular imaginative team, we can’t hold for audiences to guidelines for nan Laird of Castle Drummoch”
Laird is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. Branagh executive produces alongside David C. Glasser, Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth, Wright, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox.
“Jez, John-Henry, and Georgia person imagined a gripping play that explores really acold 1 family will spell to protect their onshore and legacy,” said Matt Thunell, President, Paramount Television Studios. “With Kenneth Branagh starring and Joe Wright directing, this is simply a singular imaginative team, and we are thrilled to erstwhile again partner pinch 101 Studios to bring this bid to Paramount+.”
The task falls nether MobLand showrunner Butterworth’s wide woody astatine Paramount, which is up astatine nan extremity of nan year. He will past segue to a five-year wide woody pinch Universal Entertainment crossed TV, streaming and film. 101 Studios made nan aforesaid move astatine nan commencement of 2027. Laird had been put successful improvement anterior to that.
“Working pinch Jez and John Henry has been specified an unthinkable acquisition these past fewer years. I couldn’t beryllium much thrilled to return different epic travel pinch them,” said Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
Over nan past 9 months, Paramount+ has greenlighted specified bid arsenic Fear Not starring Anne Hathaway, 9/12 starring Jeremy Strong, and Discretion starring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, arsenic good arsenic handing renewals to Sheridan/101 Studios’ Dutton Ranch and The Madison.
Branagh is repped by WME, Berwick & Kovacik and Gochman Law Group.
