Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly moves on from Kevin Costner series in new detective drama

Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly has landed a role in a new crime thriller series following the conclusion of the Taylor Sheridan drama.

Yellowstone actress Kelly Reilly, known for her role as Beth Dutton alongside Kevin Costner in Taylor Sheridan’s drama, has signed on to an intriguing new detective series.

Saying goodbye to Paramount Plus’ Western saga, Yellowstone fan-favourite Reilly is transitioning to a “riveting” crime thriller based in the UK.

The upcoming drama, set to broadcast on Sky, features the London-born actress as a former detective turned teacher living in a fictional Welsh town that’s been rocked by the death of a young boy.

Named Under Salt Marsh, the series also stars English actor Rafe Spall, Game of Thrones star Jonathan Pryce, Nightsleeper’s Naomi Yang and Industry’s Harry Lawtey.

The plot summary states: “Under Salt Marsh is a riveting crime thriller set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen.

“As a once-in-a-generation storm starts brewing far out at sea… teacher Jackie Ellis finds the body of her 8 year old student, Cefin, apparently drowned.

“The discovery sends shockwaves through the community, stirring up the spectre of an unresolved cold case that shook the town three years prior – the vanishing of Jackie’s niece, Nessa, which cost her career.

“Cefin’s death brings Jackie’s former partner, Detective Eric Bull, back to Morfa Halen to head the investigation into a community he let down once before.

“Convinced the cases are linked, Jackie and Bull must reconcile and race to uncover long-buried secrets inside Morfa, before the storm breaks and all the evidence is gone for good.”

Reilly, aged 47, takes on the role of teacher Jackie Ellis, with Spall portraying her former flame, Detective Eric Bull, reports the Mirror US.

The cast also features talents such as Sandman’s Dinita Gohil, Bad Sisters’ Brian Gleeson, Fresh Meat’s Kimberley Nixon, Happy Valley’s Mark Stanley, Fool Me Once’s Dino Fetscher and Julian Lewis Jones from House of the Dragon.

Currently in production across locations in Wales, the series is a brainchild of Claire Oakley (known for Make Up) and comes under the production banner of Little Door Productions working hand in hand with Sky Studios.

Add to that, the series Under Salt Marsh has been given a boost with backing from the Welsh Government through Creative Wales.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented cast bringing these characters to life,” remarked Elwen Rowlands, CEO of Little Door.

“Claire’s compelling scripts tell a thrilling story of a community deeply connected with its environment, raw with emotion, and beautifully mirrored by the stunning backdrop of North Wales where the story unfolds.”

On top of Under Salt Marsh, Yellowstone’s own Reilly has another intriguing project lined up – the forthcoming film Last Meals. In this new prison-themed flick, she’ll share the screen with Boyd Holbrook and Samuel L Jackson, who portrays a “disgraced former White House chef” named Walter.

In his new role, Walter is tasked with preparing the final meals for death row inmates, and he develops a connection with Reed, an inmate on hunger strike.

Walter suspects that Reed might be innocent and, with assistance from Reilly’s character Hannah, attempts to challenge the prison head, bringing a glimmer of hope to the other prisoners.

This follows the conclusion of Yellowstone in December 2024, which wrapped up after five seasons and 53 episodes.

Under Salt Marsh will be accessible on Sky and the streaming service NOW in the U.K. and Ireland. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution will manage the international sales of the series.

Yellowstone is available to stream now on Paramount Plus and Netflix.