It's "lights, camera, action!" for Queen Sono, the first South African series to be commissioned and made by Netflix.
Production has started on the six-part spy thriller, under the auspices of Jozi-based production house Diprente.
Pearl Thusi was confirmed to play the lead role of Queen Sono ages ago already and now the rest of the starring cast has been confirmed.
Queen is described as an unconventional spy who works for an undercover South African agency devoted to protecting the people of Africa.
Her follow cast include:
Vuyo Dabula (Generations: The Legacy) as Shandu: an ex-spy who's taken a different path with his life and gets intense as a result...
Sechaba Morojele (Yizo Yizo, Rhythm City, Hard Copy) as Dr Sid: director of the spy agency SOG.
Chi Mhende (Generations: The Legacy), Loyiso Madinga (SA's Got Talent, The Bantu Hour) and Rob Van Vuuren (The Most Amazing Show) as agents on Dr Sid's team.
Kate Liquorish (The Bantu Hour, Madiba) as Ekaterina: an heiress of an oligarch family with ulterior motives.
Khathu Ramabulana (Generations, Shadow, Scandal!) as William: Queen’s childhood friend.
Enhle Mbali Maphumulo (Rockville, Broken Vows, Scandal!) as Nova: William's girlfriend.
Abigail Kubeka (Hillside, Generations, Wild at Heart) as Mazet: Queen's beloved Gogo, who has always supported Queen - no matter what trouble she gets herself into.
Other cast members include Connie Chiume (Rhythm City, Zone 14), Otto Nobela (The Bantu Hour) and James Ngcobo (Stokvel, Hard Copy).
As we mentioned earlier this year, Netflix bought the rights to South African series Shadow, which started streaming in March, but Queen Sono is the first local Netflix Original series, made by the streamer.
The second is Blood & Water - more about this
HERE.
Netflix is using South African directors for them both. Kagiso Lediga (Catching Feelings, Late Night News with Loyiso Gola) and Tebogo Malope (For Love and Broken Bones, Tempy Pushas) are directing on Queen Sono - three episodes a piece.
The series is executively produced by Tamsin Andersson (Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, Lockdown, Catching Feelings) and will stream globally in 2020.