La Reina del Sur
La-reina-del-sur poster.jpg
GenreTelenovela
Created byRoberto Stopello
Based onLa Reina del Sur
by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Written by
  • Juan Marcos Blanco
  • Valentina Párraga
  • José Miguel Núñez
Story byArturo Pérez-Reverte
Directed by
  • Mauricio Cruz
  • Walter Doehner
Creative directorGabriela Monroy
Narrated byKate del Castillo
Theme music composerBello Jaime Teodoro
Opening theme"La Reina del Sur" performed by Los Cuates de Sinaloa
Country of originUnited States
Original languageSpanish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes123 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerPatricio Wills
ProducerÁngel Ossorio
CinematographyAlejandro García W.
Editors
  • Perla Martínez
  • Alba Merchan Hamann
  • Hader Antivar Duque
Camera setupMulti-camera
Production companies
DistributorTelemundo Internacional
Release
Original networkTelemundo
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
Audio formatStereophonic sound
Original release28 February 2011 (2011-02-28) –
present (present)
Chronology
Related showsQueen of the South

La Reina del Sur (lit. 'The Queen of the South') is a Spanish-language telenovela based on a novel of the same name by Spanish author Arturo Pérez-Reverte. The first season is produced by the American television network Telemundo in conjunction with the Antena 3 network and RTI Producciones, while season 2 is co-produced by Telemundo Global Studios and Netflix. It premiered on 28 February 2011. The series depicts the rise of Teresa Mendoza (Kate del Castillo), a young woman from Mexico who becomes the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain.

With a $10 million budget it is the second most expensive telenovela ever produced by Telemundo, the first being El Señor de los Cielos.[1] An English language remake, Queen of the South, premiered in June 2016 on USA Network, starring Alice Braga.[2][3]

The series has been renewed for a second season that premiered on 22 April 2019.[4] On 16 July 2020, Telemundo announced that the series was renewed for a third season.[5][6]

Synopsis

Season 1 (2011)

The series is the television adaptation of the literary work of the same name of Spanish author Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It is the chronicle of the rise to power of a Mexican woman within the world of international drug trafficking. Teresa Mendoza begins her adventure as a humble young woman in love with a pilot employed by the Mexican cartels. When they execute her boyfriend, Teresa flees, desperate to avoid the same fate. Her escape takes her to the south of Spain where she tries to start a new life. However, she is once again immersed in the world of narcotics trafficking, and for a second time, she suffers the death of a beloved man. After several blows, Teresa decides to take the reins of her destiny and becomes the head of her own organization. This was done with the help of a woman she met in prison, who decided to share her fortune with Teresa. Through strategic alliances and a strong sense for business, Teresa "La Mexicana" begins to control an intercontinental drug distribution business. However, her great success is accompanied by a high personal price, and Teresa's happiness and heart are tested.

Season 2 (2019)

Main article: La Reina del Sur (season 2)

The second season of La Reina del Sur follows the life of Teresa Mendoza eight years after the events of the first-season finale. Isolating herself from the rest of the world, Teresa now lives an idyllic life in Italian Tuscany, but the kidnapping of her daughter forces her to go back to the underworld and reintroduces herself into drug trafficking. To save her daughter, Teresa needs to confront her old enemies once more and face her past that she tried to leave behind.[7][8]

Episodes

Main article: List of La Reina del Sur episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
16328 February 2011 (2011-02-28)30 May 2011 (2011-05-30)
26022 April 2019 (2019-04-22)[9][10]29 July 2019 (2019-07-29)[11]
S1227 April 2019 (2019-04-27)26 July 2019 (2019-07-26)

Cast

Main

Recurring and guest

Remake

Main article: Queen of the South (TV series)

An English language remake, titled Queen of the South, premiered in June 2016 on USA Network, starring Alice Braga.[2][3]

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per season of La Reina del Sur
Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes First aired Last aired Avg. viewers
(millions)
Date Viewers
(millions) 		Date Viewers
(millions)
1 Mon–Fri 10:00 p.m. 63 28 February 2011 (2011-02-28) 2.4[15] 30 May 2011 (2011-05-30) 4.2[16] TBD
2 60 22 April 2019 (2019-04-22) 2.36[17] 29 July 2019 (2019-07-29) 2.23[18] 1.89

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Result
2011 People in Spanish Awards
Best Telenovela Roberto Stopello Won
Best Actress Kate del Castillo Won
Best Supporting Actor Humberto Zurita Nominated
Rafael Amaya Nominated
Best Villain Salvador Zerboni Nominated
Newcomer of the Year Cristina Urgel Won
Iván Sánchez Nominated
Sweethearts Kate del Castillo & Iván Sánchez Nominated
2012 TVyNovelas Awards Colombia
Best Series Roberto Stopello Nominated
Favorite Production Roberto Stopello Nominated
Best Villain Of Series Humberto Zurita Nominated
1st Your World Awards[19][20][21]
Novela of the Year Roberto Stopello Nominated
Favorite Lead Actress Kate del Castillo Nominated
Best Bad Luck Video Amor que mata Nominated
2020 International Emmy Award[22] Best Non-English Language U.S. Primetime Program La Reina del Sur Won

Source material

Pérez-Reverte, author of the novel, has stated that a great source of inspiration were Mexican drug ballads,[23] country-polka songs that tell the stories about real life Mexican drug lords.

One of the real life characters that inspired the novel is Sandra Ávila Beltrán,[24][25][26][27] known as the Queen of the Pacific, famous for being one of the first female drug traffickers to reach the level of "Boss" in the Mexican cartels, a place usually reserved for men.[28]

References

  1. ^ Guthrie, Marisa (1 April 2011). "How the Telenovela Is Beating the Networks". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (9 June 2016). "Queen Of The South EP & Cast Talk Female Empowerment And The Importance of Keeping It Real". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (23 September 2014). "La Reina Del Sur Adaptation Picked Up By USA Network As Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. ^ "TELEMUNDO ANNOUNCES THE PREMIERE DATE OF THE RETURN OF "LA REINA DEL SUR" STARRING KATE DEL CASTILLO FOR MONDAY, APRIL 22 AT 10PM/9C". nbcumv.com. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Telemundo Announces The Much-Anticipated Third Season of Global Hit Super Series "La reina del sur" at NBCUniversal's Upfront Special Tonight at 8PM ET/PT". nbcumv.com. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Telemundo y Netflix se alían para una tercera temporada de La reina del sur". todotvnews.com (in Spanish). 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ^ "La reina del sur 2: tráiler, fecha de estreno, personajes y lo que debes saber". laprensa.peru.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  8. ^ "ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS UNTIL LA REINA ARRIVES!". nbcumv.com. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  9. ^ González, Moisés. "La reina del sur 2 ya tiene fecha de estreno". People en Español. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Este es el primer avance de La Reina del Sur 2". El Salvador (in Spanish). 17 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  11. ^ "LA REINA DEL SUR, MUST-SEE SEASON FINALE STARRING KATE DEL CASTILLO COMES TO AN EXPLOSIVE END THIS MONDAY, JULY 29 AT 10P/9C ON TELEMUNDO". nbcumv.com. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  12. ^ "'La Reina del Sur': Luisa Gavasa se une a la serie de Netflix en su segunda temporada". formulatv.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  13. ^ Quijorna, Cristian. "'La Reina del Sur': Sara Vidorreta ficha por la nueva temporada de la serie en Netflix". formulatv.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  14. ^ Palenzuela, Fernando. "'La Reina del Sur': Pol Monen ficha por la segunda temporada de la serie en Netflix". formulatv.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Telemundo's Epic Original Production La Reina Del Sur Delivers Highest Premiere Ratings In Network History". Tvbythenumbers. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  16. ^ Sellers, John. "'La Reina del Sur' Finale Does Muy, Muy Bien for Telemundo". thewrap.com. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  17. ^ "TELEMUNDO'S 'LA REINA DEL SUR' - #1 SHOW IN AMERICA AT 10PM AMONG ADULTS 18-49". nbcumv.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  18. ^ Pucci, Douglas (30 July 2019). "Monday Final Ratings: 'La Reina del Sur' Second Season Finale on Telemundo Wins its Hour Among Adults 18-49 and 18-34". programminginsider.com. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  19. ^ TELEMUNDO PRESENTS THE FIRST EDITION OF “PREMIOS TU MUNDO” (YOUR WORLD AWARDS) CELEBRATING THE BEST IN POP CULTURE THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 FROM 8PM-11PM/ET
  20. ^ "Las últimas fotos de Premios Tu Mundo". Telemundo.
  21. ^ Lista de ganadores de la primera edición de los premios Tu Mundo[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ Kanter, Jane (24 September 2020). "International Emmy Awards Nominations: Glenda Jackson & 'For Sama' Among Those Vying For Prizes". deadline.com. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Navegaciones - La Jornada". www.jornada.com.mx.
  24. ^ "La narcotraficante mexicana La Reina del Pacífico queda en libertad tras ocho años de prisión". ELMUNDO. February 8, 2015.
  25. ^ UNIÓN JALISCO, Redes de Información y Educación del Siglo XXI de EL UNIVERSAL y UNO TV (March 7, 2019). "UN1ÓN | JALISCO: Noticias de Jalisco en tiempo real". www.unionjalisco.mx.
  26. ^ "La narco más famosa llega a Estados Unidos". EL DEBATE.
  27. ^ "Historias de ficción y medias verdades sobre el narco en México son buen negocio para productores de series - SinEmbargo MX".
  28. ^ Franklin, Jonathan (May 16, 2016). "Queen of Cartels: most famous female leader of Mexico's underworld speaks out" – via www.theguardian.com.

External links

Telemundo original programming
RTI Producciones telenovelas and series
Categories