USA Network Announces Series Pick Up For New Drama Queen of the South

UPDATED Tues 4/12/16: Added Photos

In a press release:

USA NETWORK ANNOUNCES THE SERIES PICK-UP FOR ‘QUEEN OF THE SOUTH’

One-Hour Drama is Based on the International Best Seller “La Reina Del Sur” by Arturo Pérez-Reverte and is From Fox 21 Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions

NEW YORK, NY – May 12, 2015 – USA Network announced the 13-episode series pick-up of the drama QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, starring Alice Braga (“City of God”), a co-production from Fox 21 Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions (UCP). The series is based on the literary page-turner “La Reina Del Sur,” the top-selling novel by the internationally acclaimed author Arturo Pérez-Reverte, which also yielded a Telemundo series that became one of the most popular telenovelas of all time for USA’s sister network. The series is slated to premiere in 2016.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH will be executive produced by M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller (“The Final Girls”), along with David Friendly (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Big Mommas House”) and Pancho Mansfield (“Damien”). A showrunner will be announced shortly. The pilot is written by Fortin and Miller and directed by Charlotte Sieling. Fox 21 Television Studios developed and produced the pilot and will run lead on the co-production with UCP.

“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.”

“USA and Fox21/FTVS have a long and strong history of growing together and making some of the seminal cable programming of the last 10 years. With QUEEN OF THE SOUTH and this summer’s COMPLICATIONS, we look forward to the next generation of great USA/Fox 21 Television Studios collaborations,” said Bert Salke, President of Fox 21 Television Studios. “We really believe that QUEEN is a breakout show and we couldn’t be more excited.”

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH — “Piloto” Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) Alice Braga as Teresa Mendoza, Jon Ecker as Guero — (Photo by: Benedicte Desrus/USA Network)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza (Braga). When her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico, Teresa 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.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH — “Piloto” Episode 101 — Pictured: Alice Braga as Teresa Mendoza — (Photo by: Benedicte Desrus/USA Network)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH is the third drama to be picked-up off of USA’s 2014/2015 development slate and joins the previously announced COMPLICATIONS (premiering June 18, 9/8c and 10/9c), the unpredictable thriller from executive producer Matt Nix (BURN NOTICE), starring Jason O’Mara (“The Good Wife”) and Jessica Szohr (“Gossip Girl”); and the award-winning hacker drama MR. ROBOT (premiering June 24, 10/9c), from UCP, starring Christian Slater (“Adderall Diaries”) and Rami Malek (“24”). Also, coming to the network in fourth quarter is the drama COLONY, from Legendary Television and UCP and executive producer Carlton Cuse (“Bates Motel,” “Lost”), starring Josh Holloway (“Lost”) and Sarah Wayne Callies (“The Walking Dead”).