‘Queen of the South’ Gets Series Order from USA Network

New drama will star Alice Braga as an aspiring drug-cartel leader

Alice Braga New Mutants
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USA Network has a new queen.

The network has given a series order to the drama “Queen of the South,” an adaptation of the Arturo Perez-Reverte best-seller “La Reina Del Sur,” which also spawned the Telemundo telenovela of the same name.

The USA version, which has received an order for 13 episodes, will star Alice Braga (“City of God”), as Teresa Mendoza. When Mendoza’s  drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico, she is forced to go on the run and seek refuge in America, where she teams with an unlikely figure from her past to bring down the leader of the very drug trafficking ring that has her on the run.

In the process, she learns the tools of the trade and strategically positions herself to become the leader of the Cartel.

“From script to inception, ‘Queen of the South’ had us hooked,” said Chris McCumber, President of USA Network. “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.  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.”

The series is co-produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions. M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller (“The Final Girls”), who wrote the pilot, are also executive producing, along with David Friendly (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Big Mommas House”) and Pancho Mansfield (“Damien”).  A showrunner will be announced shortly.

Charlotte Sieling (“The Bridge,” “The Killing”) directed the pilot.

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