Entertainment
Kelly Reilly’s 10/10 Detective Thriller Officially Returns With Major Season 2 Change
Yellowstone might have ended, but its cast is still booking high-profile jobs in film and television. Chief among them is Kelly Reilly, who has another Yellowstone-sized hit under her belt thanks to Under Salt Marsh. Created by Claire Oakley, Under Salt Marsh made a strong impression, with the premiere racking up 1.8 million viewers in its first seven days, according to parent network Sky. That eclipsed fellow Sky breakout Day of the Jackal, and now Under Salt Marsh has officially been renewed for a second season. The series streams exclusively on Peacock, also following in the footsteps of Day of the Jackal.
Under Salt Marsh features what’s arguably one of the darkest premises for a mystery series. Schoolteacher Jackie Ellis (Reilly) discovers that one of her students, Cefin Hill, has drowned. For Jackie, this death opens up old wounds: Three years earlier, she was working as a detective until the disappearance of her niece led to her losing her job and the trust of her family. When her former partner Eric Bull (Rafe Spall) returns to investigate Cefin’s death, Jackie uncovers a mountain of lies that connects the current tragedy to her past one.
‘Under Salt Marsh’ Features a Star-Studded Cast With ‘Slow Horses’ and ‘Industry’ Alums
In addition to Reilly and Spall, Under Salt Marsh features a cast packed with talent. Jonathan Pryce (Slow Horses), Harry Lawtney (Industry), Brian Gleeson, and Maggie Yang all have major roles within the series, but it’s Reilly — who also serves as an executive producer on Under Salt Marsh — that is the center of the story. Claire Oakley previously described what Reilly would bring to the table when Under Salt Marsh was first announced:
“At the heart of it all is Jackie, a character who embodies the wildness of the place we’re depicting…She’s free-spirited, compassionate, and determined, with a steely resolve that makes her truly of the land. We’re absolutely thrilled to have Kelly Reilly [bring] Jackie to life.”
Under Salt Marsh, in addition to receiving sky-high reviews for Sky, is also a critical darling. It earned a coveted 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with most reviews praising the layered story and Reilly’s performance. Despite Yellowstone‘s ups and downs, most agreed that Reilly’s performance as Beth Dutton was one of the show’s best parts, so it’s not surprising to learn that she once again holds thespotlight in a thriller like Under Salt Marsh.
‘Under Salt Marsh’ Is Officially Returning for Season 2
The success of Under Salt Marsh has now secured its future. Sky officially renewed the mystery thriller for a second season on August 26, with filming set to begin next year. This time, however, the story will leave the fictional Welsh village of Morfa Halen behind and follow Eric Bull (Rafe Spall) to Scotland.
According to Sky, Season 2 will find Bull drawn to a remote Scottish mining village that is “sinking under the weight of its own secrets.” A new murder investigation will also lead him closer to the truth about his own past. Creator and EP Oakley said she was “thrilled” to take the series to another part of the U.K. and explore another mystery filled with buried secrets.
The renewal arrives after Under Salt Marsh earned widespread critical acclaim. Season 1 currently holds a perfect 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics praised the show’s atmospheric, deliberately paced approach to the mystery genre. The fact that Under Salt Marsh has also hooked such a large audience speaks to Sky fast becoming the new home for well-crafted thrillers, helpingimpact Peacock as those thrillers strengthen its streaming library, proving it can have the kind of smash hits that fuel Netflix or HBO Max.
Kelly Reilly’s ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Is Already a Hit
Under Salt Marsh doesn’t mark the end of Reilly’s tenure in the Yellowstone universe. Reilly now headlines Dutton Ranch alongside Rip Wheeler actor Cole Hauser, with Beth and Rip leaving Montana behind to build a new life in South Texas. The series premiered on Paramount+ earlier this May and has already proven to be another major hit for the franchise, drawing 12.9 million viewers globally in its first seven days. Paramount+ renewed Dutton Ranch for Season 2 just over a month after its premiere, ensuring Reilly’s time as Beth Dutton is far from over.
Arguably one of the most talented actresses working today, Under Salt Marsh is proof of that for Reilly, and with a second season now officially on the way and a U.S. Peacock premiere still ahead, the acclaimed mystery thriller is only getting started.
- Network
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Sky Max
- Directors
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Claire Oakley
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