USA Network has added another original series with the drama Queen Of The South.
USA gave Queen Of The South a 13-episode order, according to Variety. Queen is a thriller about Mexican drug cartels. The series is based on the novel “La Reina Del Sur” by Arturo Perez-Reverte. It will star Alice Braga (Elysium, Predators).
It follows Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga) who gets sucked into drug trafficking when her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered. Teresa then flees to America and teams up with someone from her past in an attempt to take down the leader of the drug trafficking ring. She winds up being in a position to become the leader of the cartel while trying to take them down, according to Deadline.
“From script to inception, Queen Of The South had us hooked,” said USA Network president Chris McCumber. “Alice Braga does an outstanding job playing Teresa Mendoza, a determined woman who defies all odds, to not only survive, but to thrive in an unfamiliar world.”
This isn’t the first time “La Reina Del Sur” has made it to TV. In 2011, a version appeared on Telemundo and was extremely successful there. Now writers M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller along with executive producers David Friendly and Pancho Mansfield are bringing it to life on USA, according to Deadline.
“The novel has been embraced around the globe, and the telenovela broke records — now we’re looking forward to sharing this unique version of her story on USA,” said McCumber.
Charlotte Sieling (“The Bridge,” “The Killing”) directed the pilot and the showrunner will be announced soon. The show will premiere in 2016.