USA Network Orders Braga’s “Queen Of The South” to Series

Alice Braga is ready to rule the USA Network…

The network has picked up its drama pilot Queen Of The South, starring the 32-year-old Brazilian actress, to series with a 13-episode order for a 2016 premiere.

Alice Braga

The pilot was developed and produced by Fox 21 Television Studios (then Fox Television Studios), which will now co-produce with Universal Cable Productions.

Based on best-selling book La Reina Del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Queen Of The South tells the 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.

M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller wrote the pilot. Charlotte Sieling directed the pilot.

“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 is not La Reina Del Sur‘s first television adaptation in the U.S. Telemundo aired a popular telenovela, which ran in 2011 to big ratings.

Martinez Joins Cast of USA Network’s Drama Pilot “Queen Of The South”

The compass is pointing south for James Martinez

The Latino actor has joined the cast of USA Network’s drama pilot Queen Of The South.

James Martinez

Based on the popular telenovela La Reina Del Sur, series centers on Teresa Mendoza (portrayed by Alice Braga), who’s forced to go on the run when her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico.

 

Martinez will recur as Gato Fierros, a right-hand man of drug lord Cesar Guemes, who seems to delight in making his victims suffer before he does away with them.

 

His previous television credits include appearances on Elementary, Beauty and the Beast, Unforgettable, Blue Bloods, Army Wives and Breaking Bad.

 

Barraza to Star in USA Network’s Drama Pilot “Queen Of The South”

Adriana Barraza’s heading south for the upcoming television season…

The 58-year-old Mexican actress, an Oscar nominee for her performance in Babel, has landed a starring role in USA Network’s drama pilot Queen Of The South.

Adriana Barraza

The project, an English-language adaptation of Telemundo’s blockbuster 2011 telenovela La Reina del Sur, is based on the best-selling book by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

Queen Of The South centers on Teresa Mendoza (portrayed by Alice Braga), who’s forced to go on the run when her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico.

Barraza will play Camilla, the lioness ex-wife of a powerful drug lord who is establishing her own empire in America.

She quickly becomes a mother figure to Teresa (Braga), but their relationship escalates into a battle of wills that will leave more than a few bodies in its wake.

Barraza most recently appeared in Guillermo del Toro’s FX series The Strain and the feature Cake. Her 0ther film credits include Amores Perros, Thor, Drag Me To Hell and The 33.

The Queen of the South cast includes Justina Machado and Hemky Madera.

Madera to Star in the USA Network’s Drama Pilot “Queen Of The South”

Hemky Madera’s next role is taking him south

The 37-year-old Dominican American actor has landed a role opposite Alice Braga in the USA Network’s drama pilot Queen Of The South.

Hemky Madera

The project is an English-language adaptation of Telemundo’s blockbuster 2011 telenovela La Reina Del Sur, starring Kate del Castillo.

Based on the best-selling book by Arturo Perez-Reverte, Queen Of The South centers on Teresa Mendoza (Braga), who’s forced to go on the run when her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico. She seeks 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.

Madera will portray violent cartel henchman Pote Galvez.

His previous credits include appearances on Weeds, New Girl, The New Normal, Burn Notice, Luck and My Name is Earl.

Extended Trailer Released for Luna & Matt Damon’s “Elysium”

Diego Luna is preparing to have a sci-fi summer…

The 33-year-old Mexican actor forms part of the cast of the Matt Damon-starrer Elysium, which recently saw its extended trailer released.

Diego Luna in Elysium

The sci-fi film is set in the year 2154, during a time when a new caste system is in place. Earth is populated by the have-nots, while the privileged live in a veritable utopia aboard a massive spaceship.

Earth-bound ne’er-do-well Max Da Costa (Damon) gets some souped-up surgery and invades the ship monitored by Secretary of Defense Delacourt (Jodie Foster). Much battling ensues.

Elysium is the second feature from writer-director Neill Blomkamp, who earned an Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination for his 2009 debut District 9.

Along with Luna, Damon and Foster, Elysium stars Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Wagner Moura and Faran Tahir.

Sony Pictures will release the film on August 9.

García Bernal Currently Filming “El Ardor” with Alice Braga

Gael García Bernal will soon be sharing the screen with Alice Braga

The 34-year-old Mexican actor and the 30-year-old Brazilian actress are currently filling El Ardor in Argentina.

Gael Garcia Bernal

Written and directed by Pablo Fendrik, the film centers on a mysterious man who emerges from the Argentinian rainforest to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a poor farmer after mercenaries murder her father and take over his property.

García Bernal, Juan Pablo Gugliotta and Nathalia Videla Peña are producing the film with Participant PanAmerica.

 

BAC Films will commence international sales outside North and Latin America at Cannes Film Festival. Participant previously collaborated with García Bernal on last year’s Oscar-nominated film No.

Garcia Bernal to Star in The Ardor with Alice Braga

Gael Garcia Bernal to the rescue…

The 33-year-old Mexican actor will star opposite I Am Legend’s Alice Braga in The Ardor, a modern-day Western set in the Amazon.

Gael Garcia Bernal

Directed by Argentine helmer Pablo Fendrik, centers on a lone Amazon shaman (Garcia Bernal) who stumbles across a tobacco farmer and his stunning daughter (Braga) in the jungle. When a roving band of deforesters attack the farm, killing the farmer and taking his daughter hostage, Garcia Bernal’s character decides to exact revenge.

The feature, Fendrik’s follow-up to Blood Appears, a highlight of Cannes Critics Week in 2008, is described as a tale of survival and revenge set in in the Amazon jungle.

Garcia Bernal, the star of the just released The Loneliest Planet, has been getting rave reviews for his latest film No.

The Brazilian bombshell Braga, meantime, will next appear opposite Kristen Stewart in On The Road.

The Ardor begins shooting in the Amazon in March for a planned fall 2013 release.

 

AMC Networks Acquires Braga’s “On the Road”

It looks like Alice Braga’s latest film will be released in theaters this fall…

The 29-year-old Brazilian actress’ On the Road has been acquired by AMC Networks a week before it premieres in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Alice Braga

Buying all U.S. rights to Walter Salles’ adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic novel of the same name, AMC Networks announced that its distribution labels IFC Films and Sundance Selects will release the film later this fall in theaters.

Along with Braga—who rose to fame following her starring role opposite Will Smith in I Am Legend—the film stars Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, TRON: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Elisabeth Moss and Viggo Mortensen.

Alice Braga's On the Road Poster

Jose Rivera wrote the screenplay for the film, which brings to life the classic novel based on the spontaneous cross-country adventures of Kerouac and his friends during the middle of the 20th century.

On the Road is considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation that was inspired by jazz, poetry and drug experiences. While many of the names and details of Kerouac’s experiences are changed for the novel, hundreds of references in On the Road have real-world counterparts.