Telemundo Preps Book Adaptation

MIAMI: Telemundo has acquired the rights to develop a telenovela based on Spanish author Arturo Perez-Reverte’s novel La reina del sur (The Queen of the South).

One of Spain’s bestselling novelist, Perez-Reverte has already seen his work adapted into feature films, such as Roman Polanski’s The Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp, among others. A movie version of The Queen of the South is set for production with director Jonathan Jackubowicz and a cast that includes Eva Mendes, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley. The novel spans 12 years as it tells the story of Teresa Mendoza, who must transform herself from a young innocent girl to a woman tough enough to survive in the ugly and dangerous world of drug trafficking. 

Don Browne, the president of Telemundo, stated: "Acquiring the rights to La reina del sur is an outstanding opportunity and affirms that Telemundo is the ultimate destination for creative expression and opportunity."

Patricio Wills, the president of Telemundo Television Studios, added: “We’re thrilled Arturo Perez-Reverte has chosen Telemundo Studios to transform his compelling story into a novel. Teresa Mendoza is one of the most fascinating characters in contemporary storytelling. We’re committing our best talent in front of and behind the cameras to bring her to life in television at the quality and production levels this epic story truly deserves."