Peter Sarsgaard has joined the cast of Laird, the upcoming Paramount+ drama series led by Kenneth Branagh, Variety has learned. The two-time Emmy nominee will play Peter Bergstrom, a ruthless American tech titan and land magnate determined to buy up the Scottish Highlands.
Who Peter Sarsgaard Plays in Laird
Sarsgaard’s character, Peter Bergstrom, is described as a self-made billionaire whose influence reaches across continents. He is not just building wealth but power, shaping land, industry, and people as extensions of his ambition. The role places him directly against Branagh’s character, the Laird of Castle Drummoch, who is determined to protect his ancestral lands from being bought out.
The logline for Laird describes it as an epic family saga set in the modern Scottish Highlands. A proud Scot stands against a shadowy American billionaire hellbent on buying up the glens, with family feuds, buried secrets, and star-crossed romances woven through the story.
Kenneth Branagh Leads the Cast as the Laird
Kenneth Branagh stars as the Laird of Castle Drummoch and also serves as an executive producer on the series. Branagh is an Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning actor, writer, and director whose recent credits include Oppenheimer and Mayday.
The series was given a straight-to-series order by Paramount+ back in July 2026, with Branagh attached as both star and executive producer from the start.
The Creative Team Behind Laird
Laird comes from creators Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Georgia Lee. Jez Butterworth is known for his work on Paramount+ series MobLand and The Agency. John-Henry Butterworth’s credits include Nine Perfect Strangers and The Agency. Georgia Lee has worked on The 100 and Partner Track.
Two-time BAFTA-winning filmmaker Joe Wright is attached to direct the pilot episode. Wright’s previous work includes Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Darkest Hour, and Cyrano.
The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. Executive producers alongside Branagh include David C. Glasser, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, Joe Wright, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox.
Peter Sarsgaard’s Growing TV Resume
This marks a return to Paramount+ for Sarsgaard, who previously starred in the series Interrogation when the streamer was still known as CBS All Access. He has earned two Emmy nominations in recent years: one for his role in the Hulu limited series Dopesick and another for the first season of the Apple TV series Presumed Innocent.
His other television credits include DTF St. Louis, The Looming Tower, and The Slap. On the film side, Sarsgaard is known for roles in Blue Jasmine, An Education, Kinsey, Jarhead, and Shattered Glass. He will soon be seen in Neuromancer opposite Callum Turner, as well as the films Erosion, Zero K, and Roads.
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Filming and Release Plans
Production on Laird is scheduled to take place in Scotland and London between September 2026 and February 2027. The series will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ globally, including in the UK and Ireland. A specific release date has not yet been announced.
Additional casting for Laird has not been revealed at this time.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Laird and other major streaming series as they develop.
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