( CNN ) -- TV 's newest crime thriller , `` The Bridge , '' is taking viewers to a volatile place most have only seen on the news : The U.S.-Mexican border . FX goes beyond the headlines with a series that aims to give a new twist to the serial killer storyline by setting it against the backdrop of a tumultuous border town . Named after the Bridge of the Americas that connects El Paso , Texas , and Ciudad Juarez , Mexico , the show explores the real-world tensions along the border through the story of two detective agents -- one from the United States and one from Mexico -- who must work together to hunt down a serial killer who is terrorizing citizens on both sides . The series is an adaptation of a Scandinavian drama called `` Bron , '' and is brought to life for the American audience by creators Meredith Stiehm ( `` ER , '' and `` Cold Case '' ) and Elwood Reid ( `` Cold Case '' and `` Hawaii 5-0 '' ) . Like `` Bron , '' `` The Bridge 's '' pilot episode opens with a gruesome murder and a body splayed in the middle of the bridge joining both nations . This time , however , the murder involves an American judge with anti-immigrant ties . El Paso detective Sonya Cross ( Diane Kruger ) and Chihuahua state police detective Marco Ruiz ( Demian Bichir ) form an unlikely pair of agents whose investigation and relationship examines the hot topic of immigration while shedding light on the varying cultural experiences of both border towns . The series also addresses the powerful drug cartels and rampant corruption plaguing Mexican police . Filmmaker Gerardo Naranjo , known for his critically-acclaimed drug trafficking film `` Miss Bala , '' directed the pilot episode and told CNN the drama 's authentic take on the U.S.-Mexican border is what sets it apart from other productions . For example , the series embraces dialect as an important component of the story . Much like the real-life fluidity of language alongside the border , `` The Bridge '' incorporates Spanish when set in Ciudad Juarez and adds English subtitles . There is even the occasional use of a mix of both languages ( aka Spanglish ) . Aside from being a Mexican national , Naranjo brought a wealth of border knowledge to the director 's chair . He spent close to three years interviewing criminals and researching the conflict in preparation for 2011 's `` Miss Bala . '' `` We tried to be as honest as possible , '' Naranjo said . `` It is not about making Mexico look good or bad , it is about what is the truth . Many people who are ignorant of Mexican issues are going to learn about certain realities through our show . '' At the New Generation Latino Consortium Media , Marketing and Entertainment Conference ( NGLC ) in early June , Bichir echoed the sentiment . `` I had a conversation with my producers and writers and that was the first thing that got me hooked on it -- the promise of it being real , '' he said . The show 's premiere coincides with a real event currently brewing in Washington . With the passage of a bill in the U.S. Senate earlier in the month that aims to overhaul immigration laws for the first time since 1986 , the immigration debate re-entered the public discourse . Crucial to the passage of the bill was an amendment to strengthen border security by adding 20,000 more border agents and 700 miles of fence along the boundary with Mexico . `` The Bridge 's '' setting alongside the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez border allows the show to seamlessly navigate between both the entertainment and political world . Given this political relevancy and the Latino undertones of the drama , FX took the opportunity to launch a hyper-targeted campaign in an effort to cater to the 48 million TV viewers Nielsen says identify as Latinos . `` When we first starting thinking about the show , we knew we had a huge potential opportunity with the Hispanic audience , '' Sally Daws , FX 's senior vice president of marketing , told CNN . `` We understand that the Hispanic market is huge , represented by many cultures and nations of origin . We did our best to utilize materials that spoke in a relevant way to that audience . '' Naranjo hopes that `` The Bridge 's '' ability to cross multiple borders of language and culture will help spark a national debate about not only the U.S.-Mexican border , but the commonalities shared between the characters -- regardless of their cultural background . 'The Bridge ' is a great bet , '' Naranjo said to CNN . `` I hope that this show can begin a good type of controversy and a good conversation . '' `` The Bridge '' premieres July 10 PM ET on FX .
` ` The Border '' is a new crime thriller set on the U.S.-Mexican border . It will explore real - life crime and immigration issues . Director of the pilot says viewers will ` ` " about certain realities '' through the show .