Mendes, Hartnett and Kingsley on 'Queen of the South'

Movies News

By M&C Movie News May 7, 2008, 14:21 GMT

Eva Mendes, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley have signed for director Jonathan Jakubowicz's "Queen of the South" (La reina del sur) - an adaptation of the bestseller by Spanish author-journo Arturo Perez Reverte. Eva Mendes - Valentino Garavani Designer Exhibition - 'Valentino a Roma - 45 Years of Style - Red Carpet Arrivals - Ara Pacis Museum - Rome, Italy © Insidefoto / PR Photos

Eva Mendes - Valentino Garavani Designer Exhibition - 'Valentino a Roma - 45 Years of Style - Red Carpet Arrivals - Ara Pacis Museum - Rome, Italy © Insidefoto / PR Photos Variety reports the film is produced by Elizabeth Avellan and Sandra Condito with Winchester Capital, Spain's Origen and Plural Entertainment working as executive producers. Avellan, Condito and Jakubowicz have formed their new banner, Tres Malandros.The film’s screenplay was written by Jakubowicz with Albert Torres. The female-driven action flick is scheduled to shoot in Mexico and Spain with a September start date. Jean-Luc De Fanti will executive produce the film with Plural's Daniel Cebrian, Origen's Antonio Cardenal and L.A.-based producer Sergio Aguero.Jere Hausfater's Essential Entertainment is lined up to handle the international sales and plans to take the film to the Cannes market this month. It was originally set to be produced through Warner Independent where it went into turnaround.The film’s plot follows a Mexican woman who escapes to Spain after her drug-runner boyfriend is murdered. She then becomes the reigning drug smuggler in Spain, but plans to avenge her lover.