Two-time Emmy nominee Peter Sarsgaard is set to star alongside Kenneth Branagh in Laird, Paramount+‘s upcoming Scottish Highland drama, from Jez Butterworth (MobLand, The Agency) and 101 Studios.

Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire (Sarsgaard) hellbent on buying up the glens. Amidst family feuds, buried secrets and star-crossed romances, the Laird of Castle Drummoch (Branagh) remains determined to protect his ancestral lands from oligarchical land grabbing.

Sarsgaard’s Peter Bergstrom is described as a ruthless, self-made tech titan and land magnate whose influence spans continents. He is not simply building wealth, but power – shaping land, industry, and people as extensions of his ambition.

Laird was created by Butterworth and his brother, fellow writer John-Henry Butterworth, who co-created together The Agency, as well as Partner Track developer Georgia Lee. Joe Wright, who helmed the first two episodes of The Agency, is attached to direct the pilot.

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.

Sarsgaard was most recently seen in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature The Bride! alongside Christan Bale, Jessie Buckley, Annette Bening, and Penelope Cruz. On television, Sarsgaard starred in Dopesick, created by Danny Strong and directed by Barry Levinson, and Presumed Innocent created by David E. Kelley, both of which earned him an Emmy nomination. He was recently seen in DTF St. Louis, opposite David Harbour, Jason Bateman, and Linda Cardellini. He will soon be seen on television opposite Callum Turner in Neuromancer, and on film in Erosion, Zero K, and Road House 2. Sarsgaard is repped by WME and Peikoff/Mahan.