Queen of the South
Cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica Lucia Roiz / Latin Times

A promo trailer released earlier this year in January announcing that the premiere of "Queen Of The South" is just around the corner. The highly-anticipated English-language version of "La Reina del Sur" will soon debut on USA Network with 13 action-packed episodes in its first season. The U.S. television drama series, expected to make its small screen debut in the summer 2016, premiered in Miami during a private Hispanicize event.

After more than a year of casting and filming, the cast was excited to showcase their work at the Miami screening. "It's a great story," said Veronica Falcon, who portrays Camila Vargas in the show. "As every great story, it's filled with great characters. It's a story people would love to watch because of that," she said. The 49-year-old Mexican actress, best known for her work in "El Señor de los Cielos," said that the series touches many topics. "The series has universal subjects, like& love, hatred, revenge, power, corruption. But at the same time it has honor, loyalty, friendship, action," she said, emphasizing that it's a good story and that hopefully many people enjoy it.

Jon Ecker (Narcos, Gossip Girl: Acapulco) also agreed with Falcon, stating that there's a need to keep telling the story of narcos and narco trafficking. "There's going to be a lot of things that people can probably relate to," he said at the screening. Ecker, 33, portrays El Güero in the forthcoming series.

Queen of the South
Cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica Lucia Roiz / Latin Times

Brazilian actress, Alice Braga, takes the leading role of Teresa Mendoza (portrayed by Kate del Castillo in the original Telemundo novela). For Braga, who has only done films prior to jumping on board this project, called her starring role on the series a "beautiful challenge." "It was a beautiful challenge because I read the book like 7 or 8 years ago," she told the audience. "Eva Mendes was going to do the film at that time, but it never happened. Kate del Castillo did the Spanish version and it's always caught my attention. I've always been in love with this character, with Teresa," she said of the series that was filmed in Texas and Mexico.

"It's such an honor when they called me and I love being part of a mainly Latino cast... we have a lot of passion and heart," she said, adding that it's also an honor to play a Mexican role. "I love Mexico, I have so many Mexican friends," stated the 32-year-old "City of God" actress.

"Queen of the South," according to the trailer's YouTube description, "tells the powerful story of Teresa Mendoza. 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." Actors Justina Machado and Peter Gadiot were also at the Miami premiere.

Queen of the South
Alice Braga - cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica Lucia Roiz / Latin Times
Queen of the South
Jon Ecker - cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica L. Roiz / Latin Times
Queen of the South
Veronica Falcon - cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica L. Roiz / Latin Times
Queen of the South
Peter Gadiot - cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica L. Roiz / Latin Times
Queen of the South
Justina Machado - cast of "Queen of the South" in Miami premiere during Hispanicize 2016. Jessica L. Roiz / Latin Times

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