Gadiot to Star Opposite Alice Braga in USA’s “Queen of the South”

Peter Gadiot’s career is going South

The 29-year-old half-Mexican actor, who starred on ABC’s Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, has landed a series regular role in USA Network’s upcoming telenovela-based drama Queen of the South.

Peter Gadiot

Based on best-selling book La Reina Del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Queen Of The South tells the story of Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga). When her drug-dealing boyfriend unexpectedly is 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.

Gadiot will play James Valdez, a newly minted capo of Camila’s (Veronica Falcón) crime organization who has an in-depth and realistic understanding of how the narco world works. Despite his brutish ability to ferret out punishment to those who cross him, Valdez surprises Teresa with his humanistic sense of moral justice and becomes one of her closest allies in America.

Known as the swashbuckling hero Cyrus on Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, Gadiot most recently appeared in Spike’s miniseries Tut opposite Ben Kingsley and before that wrapped a season-long arc on the Robert Rodriguez, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci produced series Matador.

USA Network Renews Torres’ “Suits” for a Sixth Season

Gina Torres will be suiting up for another season…

A week into Suits’ fifth season, USA Network has renewed its flagship drama for a 16-episode sixth season.

Gina Torres

The news comes after the Season 5 premiere of the legal drama, starring the 46-year-old Cuban American actress, logged 3.4 million viewers and 1.3 adults 18-49 in Live+3.

In Live+same day ratings, Suits was down slightly from the Season 4 opener (2.13 million vs. 2.50 million) but remains USA’s top drama.

The series, created/executive produced by Aaron Korsh and set at a fast-paced Manhattan corporate law firm, is also a reliable utility player

It was just used to launch USA’s new hacker drama series Mr. Robot, which was given a second season renewal last Wednesday.

Also working for Suits is the fact that the series is owned by USA, coming from Universal Cable Prods.

“Suits has set the bar high in every way and continues to be a strong performer and marquee property for USA,” said USA president Chris McCumber. Added UCP president Jeff Wachtel, “Aaron Korsh has some great surprises for the audience at the end of Season 5 that should really set future seasons on an exciting new course.”

Along with Torres, Suits also stars Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty and Rick Hoffman.

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.

Roday Cast Opposite Melanie Griffith in Untitled ABC Comedy Pilot

James Roday has landed a special (forces) role…

The 38-year-old Mexican American actor and former Psych star has been cast as the male lead opposite Melanie Griffith in ABC’s untitled Molyneux comedy pilot (aka The Brainy Bunch), from Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television.

James Roday

As part of the deal, Roday has received a blind script commitment from 20th Century Fox Television to write and/or direct a future pilot.

The single-camera Molyneux project, written/executive produced by Wendy & Lizzie Molyneux and directed by Jamie Travis, is inspired by the book by Kip and Mona Lisa Harding. Through a combination of genetics and dynamic home schooling, Kip (Roday) and Mona Lisa Mitchell find themselves raising extraordinarily intelligent kids. Kip is a former Special Forces Operations sergeant, now a stay-at-home father to his seven brilliant children.

Griffith plays Kip’s mother-in-law who takes them into her Orange County home.

In addition to starring on Psych, Roday wrote and directed multiple episodes of the USA Network dramedy.

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.

Collins Jr. to Star in USA Network’s Supernatural Drama Pilot “Evil Men”

Clifton Collins Jr. is an evil man

Following lengthy discussions, USA Network has closed a deal with CBS Television Studios for a pilot order to Evil Men, a supernatural drama pilot starring the 44-year-old Mexican and Spanish American actor and Dallas Roberts.

Clifton Collins Jr.

The project, to be directed by Gary Fleder, was written by Daniel Taplitz (Breakin’ All The Rules). It follows Harry Killas (Roberts), an upstanding, middle-class family man whose life is turned upside down when he is approached by a frighteningly powerful entity and commanded to kill “evil men” or see his family — along with his city — utterly destroyed. However, the gleeful psycho who is meant to be his first target, instead begins teaching him how to carry out his new destiny.

Collins will play Lazlo Kirk, the profoundly evil former war criminal with magnetic charm and a deep, unpredictable violent streak, who forces himself into Harry’s life on a twisted mission of personal redemption.

Filming is slated to begin in early December in Vancouver.

“This supernatural drama is a symbolic tale of good versus evil set in the everyday modern world,” said Jackie de Crinis, Executive Vice President of Original Programming at USA Network, “It is a highly relatable story that begs the question of just how far we would go to protect our families.”

Soria to Appear in Recurring Role on USA Network’s Drama “Complications”

There are a few complications in Joseph Julian (J.J.) Soria’s future…

The 28-year-old Latino actor, best known for his role as Private First Class Hector Cruz on the Lifetime series Army Wives, has landed a recurring role on the USA Network’s Complications.

Joseph Julian (J.J.) Soria

From Burn Notice creator Matt Nix and Fox Television Studios, the drama series centers on John Ellison (portrayed by Jason O’Mara), a disillusioned suburban ER doctor who finds his existence transformed when he intervenes in a drive-by shooting, saving a young boy’s life and killing one of his attackers.

Soria will play Alvarez, a Superior Lieutenant of the Nortenos Locos and a man you simply don’t mess with.

His previous television credits include The Shield, CSI: Miami, Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, Bones and The Closer.

Campanella to Direct the USA Network’s Drama Pilot “Colony”

Juan José Campanella is joining a colony

The 55-year-old Argentine filmmaker, who won the foreign language Oscar winner for The Secret In Their Eyes, is set to direct the USA Network’s drama pilot Colony.

Juan José Campanella

Starring former Lost co-star Josh Holloway, the family drama/thriller centers on life in Los Angeles after a mysterious “foreign” occupation. Holloway will play the main character, Will Bowman, a former FBI agent who — to protect his family — is forced to collaborate with the occupational government to bring down the growing resistance movement inside the Los Angeles colony.

Colony, written and executive produced by Lost executive producer/showrunner Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal, is a co-production between Legendary Television and Universal Cable Productions.

Campanella’s other credits include directing episodes of Halt and Catch Fire, House MD, 30 Rock and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.