Mexican Soap Opera Recasts Italian Classic With Moroccan Heroine

In 1971, Mexican audiences discovered “Muchacha italiana viene a casarse,” the story of an Italian woman who moves to Mexico to start a new life. The soap opera was adapted again in 2014. This time, producer Rosy Ocampo is freely reworking some of its elements for “Cruzando Destinos: Marruecos en el corazón,” the daily newspaper Milenio explains.

The heroine is now called Yasmine. Played by Mexican actress África Zavala, the young Moroccan woman flees an arranged marriage and sets off for Mexico in search of a new life. There, she meets León, heir to a jewelry empire. Their growing closeness is challenged by prejudice and family interests.

Another unexpected return: José Ron, who plays León, already had the leading male role in the 2014 version, opposite Livia Brito. Twelve years later, he is returning to a story drawn from the same classic, but with a different heroine and a transformed plot.

Scenes filmed in Morocco, with the country at the heart of the story

The production crew really did film in Morocco, including in desert landscapes. The country has often served as a backdrop for places elsewhere in the world, as in an American series filmed between Marrakech, Casablanca and Tangier. This time, these locations reflect the main character’s origins and journey.

The production consulted advisers and cultural centers to prepare the Moroccan elements of the screenplay. After filming wrapped in October, África Zavala spoke about how the experience had introduced her to the country’s traditions and people, reports Las Estrellas.

The soap opera also has an antagonist for Yasmine: Almudena, played by Claudia Álvarez, is León’s fiancée and was raised to run the family business.

The series will stream on ViX in December 2026, then air on Mexican channel Las Estrellas on January 18, 2027, at 9:30 p.m. local time.