Quantico star Pearl Thusi is to star in Queen Sono – Netflix’s first African original series.

Thusi, who starred as series regular Dayana Mampasi in the ABC drama, is set to play a highly trained spy in a South African agency in the series.

Created by director Kagiso Lediga, who worked with Thusi in dark romantic comedy Catching Feelings, and exec producer Tamsin Andersson, who produced Catching Feelings and Lediga’s coming-of-age adventure Wizard, the series will see Thusi’s character take on dangerous missions, while also facing challenges in her personal life.

The show will launch around the world on the SVOD service and will start production in 2019.

It is expected to be one of a number of African originations for Netflix as the digital platform eyes international growth in new markets.

“It’s going to change the game for every artist on this continent,” said Thusi. “I cannot wait for every young woman, every woman on this continent and on this planet to meet Queen Sono. We’ve worked so hard for this.”

“We are excited to be working with Kagiso and Pearl, to bring the story of Queen Sono to life, and we expect it to be embraced by our South African users and global audiences alike,” said Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Original Series at Netflix.

“We are delighted to create this original series with Netflix, and are super excited by their undeniable ability to take this homegrown South African story to a global audience. We believe Queen Sono will kick the door open for more awesome stories from this part of the world,” added Kagiso Lediga.