Queen of the South: A New Series on USA

A new series will debuting this week on the USA Network. Queen of the South tells a powerful story of Teresa Mendoza, a woman who is forced to run and seek refuge in America after her drug-dealing boyfriend is unexpectedly murdered in Mexico. In the process, 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.

Alice Braga ("City of God") stars as Teresa, this original series is based on the global best selling novel "La Reina Del Sur," by internationally-acclaimed author Arturo Perez-Reverte. This literary page-turner also was one of the most popular series of all time for USA's sister network, Telemundo.

Also staring, Veronnica Falcon ("Besos de Azucar") as Camila Vargas, Justina Machado ("Six Feet Under") as Brenda Parra, Peter Gadiot ("Tut") as James Valdez, Hemky Madera ("Weeds") as Pote Galvez and Gerardo Taracena ("Apocalypto") as Cesar "Batman" Guemes. Guest stars includes Joaquim de Almeida ("Our Brand is Crisis"), Jon Ecker ("Narcos") and James Martinez ("Breaking Bad").

The drama is executive produced by David T. Friendly ("Little Miss Sunshine" & "Courage Under Fire"), along with M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller ("The Final Girls"). Scott Roseenbaum ("Gang Related") will serve as showrunner. The pilot was written by Fortin and Miller, directed by Charlotte Sieling and executive produced by Pancho Mansfield ("Damien").

From the trailer the series looks like a female version of Scarface just a bit. But will there be a fall for this character? Who knows. The series looks really good and with what the trailer shows, could be summer's best show yet.

Here's the trailer

"Queen of the South" debuts Thursday, June 23 as 10/9c on USA Network.