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Peter Sarsgaard has joined the upcoming Paramount+ drama series “Laird,” Variety has learned.
Sarsgaard will join previously announced lead Kenneth Branagh in the show, which was announced with a series order back in July.
The logline for “Laird” states that it 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 character is named Peter Bergstrom, who is further 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.”
This will not be Sarsgaard’s first series at Paramount+. He previously starred in the series “Interrogation” when the streamer was known as CBS All Access. Sarsgaard is a two-time Emmy nominee — first for his role in the Hulu limited series “Dopesick” and then for his role in the first season of the Apple TV series “Presumed Innocent.” His other TV credits include “DTF St. Louis,” “The Looming Tower,” and “The Slap.” He is also known for roles in films like “Blue Jasmine,” “An Education,” “Kinsey,” “Jarhead,” and “Shattered Glass.”
He is repped by WME, ID PR, and Peikoff/Mahan.
“Laird” hails from Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, the co-creators of fellow Paramount+ series “The Agency.” Jez is also the co-creator and showrunner of Paramount+’s “Mobland.” Georgia Lee is also a co-creator on “Laird.” Both the Butterworths are executive producers on “Laird,” with Branagh also executive producing in addition to starring. David Glasser, Joe Wright, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox also executive produce, with Wright also attached to direct the pilot. Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios produce.
