Kelly Reilly, Jonathan Pryce & Rafe Spall to Star in 'Under Salt Marsh'

With production now officially underway in Wales, Sky has firmed up the cast of its upcoming limited series Under Salt Marsh. The crime drama is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, a tight-knit community precariously located between towering mountains on one side and the swiftly encroaching sea on the other, an ever-changing environment that threatens its very existence. 

The six-part series follows the story of Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly), a former detective turned teacher who discovers the body of one of her young pupils on the eve of a once-in-a-generation storm. Her former partner, Detective Eric Bull (Rafe Spall) is tasked with leading the investigation and is convinced that the murder has ties to the cold case that once cost Jackie her job. The two must reconcile long enough to track down the truth before the storm breaks and washes away any remaining evidence.

“Under Salt Marsh is a crime thriller set in a community deeply connected to its environment, and interwoven with the heartache, fears, dreams, and secrets of its people," series creator Claire Oakley (Culprits) said in a statement when the series 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 bringing Jackie to life.”

Other featured cast members include Jonathan Pryce (The Crown), Naomi Yang (Nightsleeper), and Harry Lawtey (Industry).

Here's the series synopsis. 

Under Salt Marsh is a gripping crime thriller set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, a tight-knit community precariously nestled between towering mountains and a fast-encroaching sea that threatens its very existence. As a once-in-a-generation storm begins to gather far out at sea, former detective turned teacher Jackie Ellis (Reilly) discovers the body of her 8-year-old pupil, Cefin, seemingly drowned. The discovery sends shockwaves through the community, reviving the ghost of an unsolved cold case that rocked the town three years prior - the disappearance of Jackie’s niece, Nessa, which cost her career.

The series ensemble cast also includes Dinita Gohil (The Sandman), Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters), Kimberley Nixon (Shardlake), Mark Stanley (Happy Valley), Dino Fetscher (Fool Me Once), Lizzie Annis (Extraordinary), Rhodri Meilir (In My Skin), and Julian Lewis Jones (House of the Dragon).

Under Salt Marsh is written by Oakley, Jonathan Harbottle (Humans), and Nikita Lalwani (The Outlaws). Oakley also serves as lead director, with Mary Nighy (Traces) helming Episodes 3 and 4. Executive Producers are Reilly, Oakley, Elwen Rowlands for Little Door Productions, and Megan Spanjian for Sky Studios. The series producer is Scott Bassett. 

Filming is currently underway in Wales. Under Salt Marsh will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW in the U.K. and Ireland. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution will handle international sales of the series.