Queen Be

Eva Mendes, Josh Hartnett, and Ben Kingsley will join together to star in Jonathan Jakubowicz's "Queen of the South". Variety

An adaptation of the best-selling book by Spanish author-journalist Arturo Perez-Reverte, the story centers on Teresa, a Mexican woman who escapes to Spain after her drug-runner boyfriend is slain. Once there, she becomes the reigning drug smuggler in Spain, determined to avenge her lover.

Hartnett plays a Marine who gets involved in her business, and Kingsley plays a Russian businessman.

Jakubowicz co-wrote the screenplay with Albert Torres.

Mendez will make quite the lovely queen--surrounded by loyal subjects Kingsley and Hartnett.

Production begins in Mexico and Spain this September.