"Queen of the South" Renewed for Season 2 at USA with New Showrunner
by Nellie Andreeva
September 6, 2016


Ahead of its Season 1 finale on Thursday, USA Network has renewed freshman drama series "Queen of the South", with veteran writer-producer Natalie Chaidez (12 Monkeys) joining as showrunner. She will succeed Scott Rosenbaum who ran Season 1.

The series, which took awhile to get to the screen, debuting more than a year after getting a series order, has been a solid performer for USA, delivering an average of 2.26MM total viewers in Live+7.

It has ranked as Thursday’s No. 1 cable entertainment program in Prime among P18-49s (952K) and P25-54s (1.08MM), throughout its run.





Based on best-selling book La Reina Del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, "Queen of the South" tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga), 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. The title got attention in the U.S. in January when Kate del Castillo, the actress who played Teresa Mendoza in "La Reina Del Sur", became implicated in the El Chapo saga.





"Queen of the South" was developed by M.A. Fortin & Joshua John Miller and is executive produced by David T. Friendly. Fox 21 Television Studios developed and produced the pilot via Fox TV Studios, and runs lead on the co-production with Universal Cable Productions.

http://deadline.com/2016/09/queen-of-the-south-renewed-season-2-usa-new-showrunner-1201814046/

"Queen of the South" Renewed for Season 3 at USA
by Denise Petski
August 10, 2017


Three weeks ahead of the Season 2 finale, USA Network has ordered a third season of its hit drama series "Queen of the South", from Fox 21 Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions, for premiere in 2018.

The series has been a solid ratings performer for the network since its 2016 premiere. Starring Alice Braga and based on the best-selling book La Reina Del Sur by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, "Queen of the South" has averaged 2 million total viewers P2+ this season, and ranks as Thursday night’s No. 1 cable series among P18-49 and the night’s top cable drama among P25-54, P18-34, and P2+ year to date, according to Live+3 Nielsen stats and the network.

http://deadline.com/2017/08/queen-of-the-south-renewed-season-3-usa-1202146518/

"Queen of the South" Renewed for Season 4 at USA with Dailyn Rodriguez & Ben Lobato as New Co-Showrunners
by Nellie Andreeva
October 1, 2018


On the heels of "Queen of the South‘s" recent Season 3 finale, the crime drama has been renewed for a fourth season to premiere in 2019. The pickup of the series, from Fox 21 TV Studios and Universal Cable Prods., comes with a change at the helm as Natalie Chaidez, who served as executive producer/showrunner for the past two seasons, is stepping down.

She is succeeded by co-executive producer Dailyn Rodriguez, who is being elevated by executive producer/co-showrunner along with the series’ supervising producer Ben Lobato. The two new co-showrunners will executive produce alongside David T. Friendly.




“After two incredible years working with USA Network at the helm of Queen of the South, I’m moving on to develop my own projects full-time with my friends at Fox and Fox 21 Television Studios,” said Chaidez who has an overall deal at Fox 21.

“I will miss the QOTS familia and fans, but I am proud to pass along the baton and champion the growth of co-showrunners Dailyn Rodriguez and Ben Lobato.”




Rodriguez has been on "Queen of the South" since season two, serving as co-executive producer and No.2 to Chaidez for the past two seasons. Her deal to become co-showrunner includes a development component with Fox 21.

Lobato has been part of the writing staff since season one, most recently as supervising producer.




"Queen of the South" is the #1 ad-supported cable scripted series on Thursday nights at 9 PM among key demos, including adults 18-49, 25-54, and total viewers year-to-date, and has delivered an average of 2.1MM total viewers in its most recent third season which wrapped its run on September 13.

https://deadline.com/2018/10/queen-of-the-south-renewed-for-season-4-by-usa-with-dailyn-rodriguez-ben-lobato-as-new-co-showrunners-1202473913/

"Queen of the South" Renewed for Season 5 at USA Network
by Denise Petski, Nellie Andreeva
August 29, 2019


Ahead of tonight’s Season 4 finale, USA Network has picked up a fifth season of the hit drama series "Queen of the South".

With "Suits" going away, "Queen of the South" will take the mantle of USA’s longest-running scripted series on the air.

https://deadline.com/2019/08/queen-of-the-south-renewed-season-5-by-usa-network-1202707401/

USA Network Drama "Queen of the South" to End with 5th Season
by Peter White
March 8, 2021


The USA Network drama "Queen of the South" is ending with its upcoming fifth season, which will mark the end of the NBCU cable net’s long-running scripted series.

Production on Season 5 of the show, which was renewed back in August 2019, was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and started up again last fall in New Orleans.

The 10-episode season – the previous four had 13 each — will premiere at 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 7.




“We could not be prouder of our entire cast and crew that joined us on this magnificent journey,” said executive producers Dailyn Rodriguez, Ben Lobato and David Friendly.

“Queen of the South began shooting in Mexico City, brought us to faraway places like Malta and Colombia and finally landed in New Orleans. We cannot wait to share the explosive final season with our devoted fans. And, of course, we could not have made this show without the talented and tireless Alice Braga, who brought our queen to life.”

https://deadline.com/video/queen-of-the-south-usa-network-drama-to-end-season-5/

Awwww! The story is really cool about drug cartels and knowing the last season will be aired this April makes me feel sick. By the way, for those watching in Netflix, this last season will be available April Next year.