USA Greenlights ‘Queen of the South’ Series

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

USA Network Tuesday added to its scripted cable lineup with the pick-up of drama Queen of The South, the network announced Tuesday.

The 13-episode series, produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions and set to premiere in 2016, stars Alice Braga (City Of God) as a widow of a major drug dealer who becomes the eventual leader of the cartel. The story is an adaptation of La Reina del Sur, the highly successful Telemundo novela.

“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.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.