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The Robert Downey Jr. produced and starring The Sympathizer came and went last year with a lot less fanfare than many expected due to the talent involved and the fact the miniseries was based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. However, some unexpected fallout from the Emmy-nominated Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar created and written high-profile project emerged today from the Writers Guild of America West, and it really ain’t pretty.

The acclaimed Oldboy director and the multiple Genie Award winner have both been expelled from the WGA West.

The ejection is result of Park and McKellar crossing a pretty big line. In contradiction of all the rules of Hollywood labor best practices, the duo worked and wrote on the HBO miniseries during the 2023 strike that saw the scribes’ guild and SAG-AFTRA bring Hollywood to a halt for almost six months. The...

Kleo is a German spy action-thriller and dark comedy-drama series created by Hanno Hackfort, Richard Kropf, and Bob Konrad. The Netflix series is set in 1989, soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall and it follows the story of a former East German spy as she goes on a revenge mission to kill people who betrayed her. Kleo stars Jella Haase in the lead role with Dimitrij Schaad, Julius Feldmeier, Vincent Redetzki, and Marta Sroka starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the dark comedy, thrilling drama, and espionage in Kleo here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Killing Eve Credit – BBC America

Killing Eve is a British spy thriller and dark comedy-drama series created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Based on a novel series titled Villanelle by author Luke Jennings, the BBC America series revolves around a bored British intelligence agent who is tasked with tracking down psychotic assassin,...

“The Sympathizer” is an epic about Vietnamese histories — plural.

The HBO series takes its title from the experience of a North Vietnamese spy known as the Captain (Hoa Xuande), who embeds in a South Vietnamese community in 1970s Los Angeles after the war. By the end, he has nearly lost his sense of himself after struggling to make sense of the infinite political ideologies held by his country’s people and the fact that none had put an end to human suffering.

That’s a lot to hold — too much, in fact, for one person. So casting director Jennifer Venditti, known best for crafting the ensembles of “Euphoria,” “Uncut Gems” and more, went on an eight-month worldwide journey to find actors whose overlapping performances, and personal histories, would add layers to the Captain’s journey.

Traditional auditions aren’t Venditti’s style. “Part of my process is I do interviews with people as well,...

Exclusive: UTA has signed The Sympathizer star Hoa Xuande for representation.

Xuande is currently the lead in the A24/HBO series, which hails from visionary director Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar and is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name.

Set during the Vietnam War, the series follows ‘The Captain’ (Xuande), a North Vietnamese spy in the South Vietnamese army, who stays embedded in a South Vietnamese community in exile in the United States. The series also stars Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan and Duy Nguyen. For his performance, he was nominated for a Gotham TV Award for their inaugural program in the ‘Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series’ category.

He can previously be seen in the Cineflix series Last King of the Cross in the role of ‘Romeo’ alongside Tim Roth; Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop as ‘Lin’; the indie feature A Stitch in Time,...

Shows like ‘True Detective,’ ‘Hacks,’ ’ The Sympathizer,’ and others are putting their best foot forward for Emmy voters.

The Primetime Emmy Awards are still three months out, but campaign season is in full gear. The nomination round of voting began this week and runs through Monday, June 24. As is often the case, Warner Bros. Discovery has dozens of titles up for consideration between the premium prestige programs of HBO and the buzzy streaming-exclusive shows on Max. To help remind voters of the series that they loved over the past year, Max is launching For Your Consideration (FYC) panels featuring the cast, producers, and crews of titles to make the case for their nominations. Subscribers can find a large selection of panels on Max now, and those who aren’t already signed up for Max can take advantage of the streamer’s limited-time free trial to check out the panels and the shows themselves!

Robert Downey Jr.’s career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The Oppenheimer star has seen it all – the highs and the lows. From his early rise to fame, that was stunted by a crippling drug addiction and was at once threatened to stunt his career as well. But he bounced back in style. Since then, there has been no turning back for him. And he’s played numerous interesting roles. But on the top of his list would be a series which saw him take on the mantle of playing 4 roles.

Robert Downey Jr.’s rise (and return) to fame

Robert Downey Jr. has not taken a step back after the turn of the millennium l l Author: Georges Biard Credits: Wikimedia Commons

Ever since Robert Downey Jr. came out of rehab, it’s been about going from strength to strength for him. The 59-year-old was always known for his acting prowess.

For Australian Vietnamese actor Hoa Xuande, the Vietnam War was a compilation of incredibly sad yet impactful stories shared by family members that up until recently, he didn’t fully understand.

But since joining the cast of the HBO miniseries The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, Xuande wishes he could have those moments with his loved ones again with a better understanding of what their experiences might’ve been like as well as the atrocities of war.

From Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. As Captain keeps himself as a double agent across the 7-episode project, he meets and befriends a variety of interesting characters, four...

Co-producers are eager for The Sympathizer season 2 with more character exploration. They were focused on season 1 before planning sequels. Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar-created series features a talented and starry cast.

The Sympathizer season 2 gets a candid update from the producers of the HBO drama, which recently concluded its run. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer was created by showrunners Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, with the acclaimed filmmaker Park directing the first three episodes. The cast includes Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, Duy Nguyn, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Phanxin, Kieu Chinh, Alan Trong, and Sandra Oh.

In an interview with TheWrap, co-producers Amanda Burrell and Susan Downey gave an update on the chances of The Sympathizer season 2:

Burrell: Were so in love with these characters and I think with Hoa as our are Captain it would be amazing.

Will There Be The Sympathizer Season 2? ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

HBO’s The Sympathizer has reached its conclusion with its finale episode, ‘Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?’ The makers could not have come up with a better title, as nobody wanted the historical black comedy series to end.

Over seven episodes, the show garnered a dedicated following owing to its riveting storyline and fascinating performances by Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. As the audience still can not get enough of the series, there is already a demand for a second season. But has The Sympathizer been renewed for a second season? Here is everything we know so far.

Will The Sympathizer Return with Season 2 on HBO?

The Sympathizer has not been renewed for a second season as of now. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the series was labelled as a limited series,...

Spoiler Alert: The following interview contains spoilers for “Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?,” the series finale of “The Sympathizer” on HBO.

Robert Downey Jr. may have played five different characters in “The Sympathizer,” but he’s not the only actor in the cast who assumes multiple identities.

The limited series follows a North Vietnamese communist spy simply known as the Captain (Hoa Xuande) who’s embedded in a South Vietnamese community in Los Angeles after the war. Duy Nguyễn plays Man, the Captain’s handler, best friend and sole remaining connection to his home country. But for fear of surveillance, the two send decoy letters addressed to the Captain’s fictional aunt. Any real truths must be brief, focused and written in invisible ink. Therefore, when the Captain is lonely and in need of connection, he has imaginary conversations with Man as though he were with him in person.

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The Sympathizer” finale.

The “The Sympathizer” finale revealed where Man (Duy Nguyen) has been all this time.

Sunday’s episode of the HBO series showed that the Captain (Hoa Xuande) and Bon (Fred Nguyen Khan) were caught after the General’s covert mission to take back Vietnam goes awry. The Captain has been writing his confession the entire season, reading it out loud to a guard at the reeducation camp to be considered by the Commissar. It’s later revealed that the Commissar is none other than Man, who is deformed after falling victim to a napalm strike and wears a mask over his face.

“When you’re writing, you want to surprise people, but you also want to give them enough hints and want to make it make sense,” showrunner Don McKellar told TheWrap. “The problem with seven, the final episode, is that...

Much like “Hannibal,” it’s difficult to believe a show as spooky and complex as “Evil” ever aired on network television. But as the horror series about an unlikely trio investigating reports of demonic incidents for the Catholic Church debuts its entertaining final season on Paramount+, where the Robert and Michelle King-created series moved in Season 2, it’s also hard to believe the show exists anywhere, as it remains wholly unlike anything else on TV.

In Season 4, the first episode of which is now streaming, the series continues to balance its unique cases of the week with storylines involving overarching mythology, all while engaging with and exploring the personal beliefs and fears of Kristen (Katja Herbers), David (Mike Colter) and Ben (Aasif Mandvi). And then there’s that little issue of the antichrist and the fact it’s Kristen’s biological child. All of these things come together nicely...

The Sympathizer is a period spy thriller and dark comedy series created by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar. Based on a 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Vietnamese author Viet Thanh Nguyen, the HBO series follows the story of the Captain, a North Vietnam spy planted in the army of South Vietnam but when he is forced to flee to the United States, he keeps gathering information on his community to send it back to the Viet Cong. The Sympathizer stars Hoa Xuande in the lead role with Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, Duy Nguyễn, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Alan Trong, and Sandra Oh starring in supporting roles. If you loved the spy thriller and dark comedy aspects of The Sympathizer here are some similar shows you could watch next.

The Americans (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – FX

The Americans is a...

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The Sympathizer” Episode 6.

In Sunday’s episode of “The Sympathizer,” the Captain (Hoa Xuande) murders his nemesis Sonny (Alan Trong) in his apartment, following the General’s (Toan Le) orders after concerns surfaced about his reporting on their covert mission.

But the decision is fueled by more than just the directive, after The Captain learned that his girlfriend Sofia Mori (Sandra Oh) had been having an affair with Sonny while he was away, working as a Vietnamese interpreter on Nikos’ (Robert Downey Jr.) movie.

“We have a rivalry that’s obviously spanned through our childhood because we have very similar backstories. The Captain and Sonny had American education before they split ways, so they see their causes for the Vietnamese people very similarly, but they obviously act upon it in very different ways,” Xuande told TheWrap. “I can only speak on behalf of the...

In the upcoming episode of “The Sympathizer” titled “Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?” viewers are in for a gripping ride as the story delves deeper into the life of the spy embedded in the South Vietnam army. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War’s final days, tensions run high as the spy navigates his double life in the United States, torn between loyalty and survival.

As the episode unfolds at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, 26 May 2024, on HBO, audiences can expect to witness the intricate web of espionage and betrayal unravel in unexpected ways. The spy’s struggles intensify as he grapples with the moral complexities of his actions, blurring the lines between right and wrong in a world fraught with uncertainty.

With stellar performances and a riveting storyline, “The Sympathizer” continues to captivate viewers with its raw portrayal of war, identity, and the human experience. As the series reaches its seventh episode,...

The satirical spy-thriller “The Sympathizer” hopes to make a mark at the Primetime Emmys this year, as HBO/Max has submitted the show for 27 Emmy categories. The hopeful bids from creators Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar include acting recognition for breakout performer Hoa Xuande and superstar Robert Downey Jr., as well as outstanding limited or anthology series.

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 debut novel, “The Sympathizer” tells the story of “The Captain” (Xuande), a North Vietnamese soldier in the South Vietnamese army who is forced to flee to the United States with his general near the end of the Vietnam War. While living within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he continues to spy on the community, struggling between his original loyalties and his new life.

Fresh off his Oscar win for supporting actor in “Oppenheimer,” Downey aims to become the first male actor to win an Oscar and...

Get ready for an intense and gripping episode of “The Sympathizer” as Season 1 Episode 6, titled “The Oriental Mode of Destruction,” airs at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, May 19, 2024, on HBO. In this thrilling installment, viewers will be drawn deeper into the world of espionage and intrigue as the story nears its climax.

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War’s final days, “The Sympathizer” follows a spy embedded within the South Vietnamese army as he flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community. Despite his new surroundings, the spy continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong, navigating a dangerous world of double-crosses and betrayal.

As tensions rise and the stakes escalate, viewers can expect plenty of twists and turns as the spy’s loyalties are put to the test. With its complex characters, gripping plot, and thought-provoking themes, “The Sympathizer” offers...

Robert Downey Jr. shines in The Sympathizer, playing four captivating characters in this acclaimed HBO miniseries. Episode 4 brings chaos and references to classic Vietnam War films like Apocalypse Now, with a touch of Tropic Thunder's satire. While not as visually stunning as Apocalypse Now, The Sympathizer is a strong series with comedic elements and great performances.

Robert Downey Jr.'s latest television series features a great callback to his 2008 comedy classic. The new HBO limited series The Sympathizer is a critically acclaimed adaptation based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Since releasing on April 14, 2024, The Sympthzier has earned an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and is widely considered one of the best miniseries currently on television. The acclaimed series stars Downey Jr. as four different characters in his first major role since his Oscar-winning performance in 2023's Oppenheimer.

The Sympathizer's cast also includes Hoa Xuande,...

Hoa Xuande’s life changed on Sept. 21, 2022.

It was nine months after he had sent in his audition tape for HBO’s series “The Sympathizer”; he had gone through the gamut of Zoom calls, he’d met with director Park Chan-wook, he’d traveled to South Korea and even made some trips to Los Angeles as part of the audition process. But there was no word on whether he’d gotten the part — radio silence after readings and tests had to mean the worst. But on that fateful September morning, he learned that he’d be playing the Captain, starring in the series opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Sandra Oh. “I felt like I won the lottery,” says Xuande.

The series is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The Captain is a spy for North Vietnam who comes to Los Angeles and finds himself with conflicted loyalties.

Note: This story contains spoilers ahead from “The Sympathizer” Episode 4.

Sunday’s episode of “The Sympathizer” saw The Captain (Hoa Xuande) go to work as an interpreter on auteur Nikos’ (Robert Downey Jr.) film about the Vietnam War.

Co-showrunner Park Chan-wook revealed in an interview with TheWrap that one key change that the series made from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pultizer Prize-winning source material was moving the location of the film’s set from the Philippines to California.

“I think in the original novel, because it’s inspired by ‘Apocalypse Now,’ they changed the Philippines into Vietnam. But because of the financial restraints, we set this in California and changed that into Vietnam for this movie set,” Chan-wook said. “I think in hindsight, it turned out better in terms of our creative aspect… we were able to bring in our secondary characters into our story to have them play the...

HBO's miniseries The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel and focuses on a North Vietnamese spy continuing his mission as a South Vietnam plant after the end of the Vietnam War. The show features a diverse ensemble cast and crew, showcasing Vietnamese representation and collaboration among Asian cultures. Phanxin and Kieu Chinh open up about their character arcs in the show, how their real-life experiences informed their performances, and the importance of the show's Vietnamese representation.

Get a new perspective on the Vietnam War and its fallout with The Sympathizer. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the HBO miniseries centers on the Captain, a North Vietnamese spy working as a Communist plant in the South Vietnamese army in the '70s. When the war comes to an end, and he's forced to escape his home to head to America, the...

Projects about the Vietnam War and its aftermath are so plentiful as to be practically their own genre, and they’ve starred a who’s who of Hollywood icons, including John Wayne, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Robin Williams, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and Christian Bale.

Notably missing from the casts — at least among the substantive speaking parts — have been performers of actual Vietnamese descent. That’s finally changed with The Sympathizer, HBO and A24’s limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel. Robert Downey Jr. (who also executive produces) and Sandra Oh are the big names involved, but they are led by relative newcomer Hoa Xuande and joined by Vietnamese costars to tell a story about spycraft and personal and collective identity immediately following the conflict, centering the people whose lives and country were torn apart as a result.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with eight of...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Sympathizer episode 3.

The Sympathizer episode 3 unites all Robert Downey Jr.'s characters in a plot to take out The Major, escalating tension and intrigue. The Captain faces moral dilemmas as he struggles to follow orders to assassinate an innocent man, revealing dark secrets within the ranks. Dark themes of betrayal, espionage, and inner conflict are skillfully woven together, culminating in a shocking assassination and unexpected twists.

The Sympathizer episode 3 titled "Love It or Leave It" was released exclusively on HBO and Max on April 28, 2024. The third episode of the seven-part miniseries, The Sympathizer episode 3 featured the union of all four of Robert Downey Jr.'s characters in the same scene. Since releasing on April 14, 2024, The Sympthzier has earned an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and is widely considered one of the best new miniseries on television. The acclaimed series stars Downey Jr. in his first major acting...

The Captain has a big morale dilemma in the first season of The Sympathizer TV show on HBO. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like The Sympathizer is cancelled or renewed for season two. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we invite you to rate all of the first season episodes of The Sympathizer here.

An HBO historical dark comedy-drama series, The Sympathizer TV show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles). The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese...

Spoiler Alert: This interview contains spoilers for Episode 3 of “The Sympathizer” on HBO.

Phanxine isn’t an actor.

Or so he says, though one might beg to differ after seeing his performance in “Love It or Leave It,” the third episode of HBO’s “The Sympathizer.” Though he’s no stranger to filmmaking, having directed and produced popular features such as the Vietnamese box office hit “Sweet 20,” Phanxine is a first-time performer. In fact, his involvement in “The Sympathizer” only came together after an audition he attended as a prank — more on that later.

Episode 2 saw the General (Toan Le) begin to suspect the presence of a North Vietnamese spy among the South Vietnamese community he began building in Los Angeles after the war, but he’s still far from realizing that it’s the Captain (Hoa Xuande) who’s betraying him. In an attempt to keep his cover, the...

This Sunday on HBO, viewers are in for a gripping and thought-provoking episode of “The Sympathizer” with Season 1 Episode 4 titled “Give Us Some Good Lines.” Set near the end of the Vietnam War, the series follows the journey of a spy embedded in the South Vietnamese army who flees to the United States and settles in a refugee community. Despite his new surroundings, he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong.

In this installment, tensions rise as the spy navigates the complexities of his double life while grappling with the moral dilemmas that come with espionage. As the stakes escalate, viewers will be drawn deeper into the web of intrigue and deception that surrounds the protagonist.

Tune in at 9:00 Pm this Sunday, May 5th, 2024, on HBO, and immerse yourself in the thrilling world of “The Sympathizer.” It’s a riveting portrayal of loyalty, betrayal, and...

We don't have to wonder if The Sympathizer will be cancelled or renewed for a second season since it's been promoted as a limited series. Still, HBO sometimes likes to change course and find a way to keep shows going. Big Little Lies and The White Lotus are good examples. Could The Sympathizer continue beyond these seven episodes? Stay tuned.

A historical dark comedy-drama series, The Sympathizer TV show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles). The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War. He flees to America with his general (Le) and begins a new life in Los Angeles within a...

Vulture Watch

The Captain has serious choices to make. Has The Sympathizer TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on HBO? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of The Sympathizer, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

A historical dark comedy-drama series airing on the HBO cable channel, The Sympathizer TV show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles). The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War. He flees...

Park Chan-Wook's new Max series, The Sympathizer, explores themes of revenge and loyalty on a grand scale. The Captain, a communist spy, must navigate betrayals and dangerous missions in the waning days of the Vietnam War. The show's focus on the devastating impact of revenge, mixed with tragedy and humor, continues Park Chan-Wook's exploration of these dark themes.

The brand-new Max series The Sympathizer, co-created and directed by legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook, looks to continue the themes of the auteur's underrated Vengeance Trilogy. Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer chronicles the story of an unnamed communist spy during the waning days of the Vietnam War. As Saigon falls, main The Sympathizer character The Captain (played by Hoa Xuande) is forced to undertake a more dangerous mission infiltrating the United States. The source material is equal parts tragic, thrilling,...

HBO's new limited series The Sympathizer is set to run through April and May 2024. The celebrated new series has debuted at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, solidifying itself as one of the most celebrated new miniseries of 2024. Robert Downey Jr. stars as several characters in the critically acclaimed new limited series which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The Sympathizer's cast also features performances from Sandra Oh, Toan Le, and Fred Nguyen Khan.

The Sympathizer episode 1 dives into the final days of the Vietnam War before the real-life Fall of Saigon. Downey Jr. plays Claude, a fierce and manipulative member of the CIA who works with the General of the South Vietnamese Army to help him flee the country to the safety of the United States. While Downey plays several major roles in The Sympathizer, the series' protagonist, who is simply...

Get ready for an intense episode of “The Sympathizer” titled “Love It or Leave It,” airing on HBO at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, April 28, 2024. In this gripping installment, tensions rise as the Captain grapples with the General’s orders to eliminate the spy among them.

Feeling the weight of this task, the Captain turns to Bon for assistance in crafting and executing a plan, timed perfectly for Independence Day. As they strategize, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the pressure mounts as they race against time to uncover the traitor in their midst.

Meanwhile, amidst the turmoil, Claude introduces the Captain to the enigmatic figure known as the Auteur during an upscale lunch. With alliances shifting and secrets lurking, the Captain finds himself navigating treacherous waters where loyalty and betrayal blur the lines.

Don’t miss out on the suspenseful twists and turns of “Love It or Leave It...

The Sympathizer is a historical black comedy series with elements of war, spy, politics, and mystery. Based on a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winning 2015 best-selling novel of the same name by Vietnamese-American professor Viet Thanh Nguyen, the HBO series is co-written and directed by Park Chan-wook.

The HBO series is set near the end of the Vietnam war and it follows the story of a spy embedded in the South Vietnam army as he flees to the United States to gather intelligence for the Viet Cong. The Sympathizer is simply a thrilling experience with some great comedy and layered characters that will have you glued to your screen.

The Sympathizer – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Arrive?) Credit – HBO

The Sympathizer consists of seven episodes in total. The historical dark comedy series premiered on HBO with its first episode on April 14, with the rest of the episodes coming out weekly every Sunday.

Team Downey reunites with HBO for The Sympathizer, featuring Robert Downey Jr. in four unique roles. The captivating Vietnam War-era thriller is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel exploring espionage and immigrant struggles. Executive Producers Susan Downey and Niv Fichman prioritized authenticity by involving Vietnamese voices in all aspects of production.

Team Downey keeps their success streak with HBO going with The Sympathizer. The production banner headed by Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. first teamed up with the premium network for the Perry Mason revival/reboot, in which the Oscar winner was set to star before reverting to just an executive producer due to scheduling issues. In addition to HBO, Team Downey is also working with the network's sister streaming platform, Max, for two Sherlock Holmes spin-off shows.

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel of the same name, the HBO thriller centers on a North Vietnamese spy known...

Don McKellar tackles a new project with The Sympathizer, bringing his creative talents to the TV sphere with renowned director Park Chan-wook. The Sympathizer delves deep into a complex narrative, capturing the essence of the source material's Hollywood satire and war drama. McKellar navigates challenges in adapting the novel, particularly in capturing the voice of the Captain through a unique narrative device.

Multihyphenate Don McKellar is tackling his biggest project to date with The Sympathizer. The Canadian creative first found success as an actor in everything from the David Cronenberg-helmed eXistenZ to the Samuel L. Jackson-starring The Red Violin, which he also penned. McKellar went on to find further acclaim behind the camera with the 1998 apocalyptic black dramedy Last Night, which he wrote and directed and won him the Cannes "Award of the Youth" trophy.

With The Sympathizer, McKellar makes his return as a creator/showrunner in the TV sphere,...

Vietnamese actors in HBO's The Sympathizer present a truthful depiction of their culture on screen through natural dialogue delivery. The show's non-linear production allowed stars Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Toan Le to grow with their characters, exploring inner power in different ways. Director Park Chan-wook's precision and vision made him the perfect choice to helm the HBO thriller to his stars, guiding them with exact direction.

Some wars continue long after they end, as seen in The Sympathizer. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the HBO miniseries revolves around a North Vietnamese spy simply known as the Captain, who has been working undercover in the South Vietnamese army in the hopes of undermining their war efforts in the '70s. As the Vietnam War comes to an end, the Captain and some of his South Vietnam cohorts escape to America to start new lives,...

Director Park Chan-wook brings his genre-bending expertise to TV with The Sympathizer miniseries on HBO, exploring the complexities of espionage and immigrant experiences. Director Park, alongside his team, made a conscious effort to stay true to the Vietnamese representation in the show by hiring dependable consultants for authenticity and guidance. With Robert Downey Jr. taking on four different roles, filming for The Sympathizer was a unique and challenging process that Director Park found both delightful and exciting.

Park Chan-wook makes his triumphant return to TV with The Sympathizer. The South Korean filmmaker became a worldwide phenomenon with the release of 2003's Oldboy adaptation, the second installment in his unofficial The Vengeance Trilogy that began with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and concluded with 2005's Lady Vengeance. He's since gone on to find acclaim with the 2009 horror movie Thirst, producing Bong Joon-ho's breakout hit Snowpiercer, the psychological thrillers The Handmaiden and Stoker,...

The Sympathizer presents Vietnamese culture with a primarily Vietnamese cast speaking their native tongue. Stars Fred Nguyen Khan and Duy Nguyn researched extensively to time-travel into the late 1970s setting, finding inspiration in music. Interestingly, the two actors were already friends well before being cast in the show, which further helped them capture the close bond between their characters.

The Vietnam War is being told through a unique new lens with The Sympathizer. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the HBO thriller is set near the end of the Vietnam War, following a group of refugees as they escape from the country and head to America to build new lives. Amid the refugees is the Captain, a spy for North Vietnam who had been working undercover in the South Vietnam army and continues his mission while on the other side of the world.

The Sympathizer centers on a North Vietnamese spy in the Vietnam War, portrayed brilliantly by Hoa Xuande, with Sandra Oh playing a pivotal role in his internal conflicts. The show focuses on Vietnamese representation, avoids Western perspectives, features mostly Vietnamese dialogue, and sheds light on the struggle of Asian actors in Hollywood. Xuande and Oh were thrilled about the show's complex layers and Vietnamese representation, with episode 4 standing out as a highlight for its satirical take on Hollywood-based Vietnam War productions.

Sandra Oh continues her reign on television with The Sympathizer. Having first broken out with the HBO comedy Arliss, Oh has garnered widespread acclaim on both the big and small screens throughout her career with the likes of Grey's Anatomy, for which she landed five Primetime Emmy nominations and won her first Golden Globe, Sideways and Turning Red. More recently, she's been seen and heard in AMC's Killing Eve,...

Robert Downey Jr.’s The Sympathizer co-star would love to join the MCU, and he has quite some picks for the roles he could play. Fred Nguyen Khan, who plays Bon in the HBO series, would have opted to play Shang Chi or Iron Fist, if these roles weren’t already taken. However, with his martial arts background, Khan would love to play the villain in the sequel to Simu Liu’s Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Robert Downey Jr.’s The Sympathizer co-star reveals his MCU aspirations

Khan’s latest series, The Sympathizer, is receiving largely positive comments. Besides acting in the series, Robert Downey Jr. also served as its executive producer alongside his wife Susan Downey. The miniseries based on the Pulitzer-winning novel is also Downey Jr.’s first project since his Oscar win.

Robert Downey Jr.’s The Sympathizer Co-Star Wants To Play...

Downey Jr.'s 2024 series, "The Sympathizer," is a success, further highlighting his career post-mcu. Downey Jr. had a box office bomb with "Dolittle," standing out as his only recent misstep. "Dolittle" received negative reviews and was a major box office failure, contrasting with Downey Jr.'s successful projects.

Robert Downey Jr.'s 2024 project is The Sympathizer, a critically acclaimed show that further proves only one blip exists in the actor's record in recent years. The HBO historical black comedy-drama series, created by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 novel. The Sympathizer is semi-based on a true story, as it begins with the fall of Saigon and the show's main character, the Captain, fleeing to the United States and serving as a spy for the Viet Cong. While the protagonist is inspired by a real spy (Pham Xuan An), the Captain is completely fictional.

Aside from Downey Jr.

Spoiler Alert: This article contains details of the first episode of HBO’s limited series The Sympathizer, which premiered on April 14.

“All right, see you stateside,” says Robert Downey Jr’s Claude quips with some gallows humor to Hoa Xuande’s The Captain near the end of the first episode of HBO’s The Sympathizer as communist North Vietnamese forces bombard soon-to-fall Saigon in 1975.

If the slippery CIA officer was the only role Oscar winner Downey portrays in the multi-genre adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel, it would capture a lot of attention on or off cable. However, Downey plays several characters in multicultural and multinational The Sympathizer from showrunners Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar as the action moves from the dying days of the American War, as it is known in Southeast Asia, to Southern California and back again.

Along with the music-fan spymaster and mentor to the Captain,...

Robert Downey Jr. stars as not one, but four characters in HBO’s newest thriller series, “The Sympathizer.”

The limited series, which is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel of the same name, follows a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy as he hides his identity from a refugee community in Los Angeles during the final days of the Vietnam War.

Keep on reading for the full breakdown of all the characters in “The Sympathizer,” and where you’ve seen each actor before.

Hoa Xuande in “The Sympathizer.” (Hopper Stone/HBO)

Hoa Xuande as The Captain

Hoa Xuande stars as the Captain, a spy for North Vietnam who becomes embedded in a refugee community in Los Angeles. His dual identities prompt him to get caught between his conflicting loyalties and contradicting desires.

Xuande has been featured in “Last King of the Cross,” “A Stitch in Time,” “Cowboy Bebop” and “Hungry Ghosts.

The HBO miniseries "The Sympathizer" is semi-based on real events, following a North Vietnamese spy post-Vietnam War. The series kicks off with the fall of Saigon, which marked the technical end of the Vietnam War. The fall of Saigon in 1975 serves as a crucial event in "The Sympathizer," shaping the storyline and character development.

The HBO miniseries The Sympathizer is semi-based on a true story — while the characters are entirely fictional, their stories are inspired by real people and events in Vietnam, particularly the fall of Saigon. The 2024 historical black comedy-drama television show, created by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 novel of the same name and centers around a (fictional) character named the Captain, played by Hoa Xuande. The Captain is a North Vietnamese spy in the South Vietnam army during the Vietnam War, but the series picks up near the end of the treacherous bloodshed.

With the first episode of The Sympathizer premiering this past weekend on HBO, the world is seeing just how wild this adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is. A stunning blend of war story, satire, and powerful drama, The Sympathizer boasts impressive performances from a cast featuring Hoa Xuande, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr in five distinct performances. Written by Don McKellar alongside Oldboy director Park Chan-wook, The Sympathizer is incredible. The seven-part series will be a big contender for series of the year. I got the chance to speak with the cast and producers about bringing the book to the screen, and their insights are below. Check it out.

First, I asked Sandra Oh about her layered experience making recent films like Umma, which focused on Korean identity, and the comedy Quiz Lady with Awkwafina, which touched on race and culture without making it a central part of the plot.

Network: HBO

Episodes: Seven (hour)

Seasons: One

TV show dates: April 14, 2024 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Robert Downey Jr. (in multiple roles).

TV show description:

A historical black comedy-drama series, The Sympathizer TV show is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

The story revolves around the struggles of the Captain (Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War.

Read More…...

“I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces.”

So begins Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer,” which, when released in 2015, was hailed for its humorous, biting interrogation of American perspectives on the Vietnam War.

Integrating elements of the espionage thriller à lá John le Carré with a heavy sense of irony reminiscent of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” “The Sympathizer” is told from the viewpoint of an officer in the U.S.-supported South Vietnam army who secretly reports back to communists in North Vietnam. Framed as a confession to the people for whom he has ostensibly been spying, the narrator — who goes unnamed in the novel — chronicles the story of his journey to Southern California, where he joins the Vietnamese refugee community settling there and grapples with questions of loyalty and assimilation.

In a 2015 interview, Nguyen, who is a professor at the University of Southern California,...

About a month ago, “The Sympathizer” star Fred Nguyen Khan lost his grandmother.

She was a Vietnamese refugee who sought asylum in Canada, enduring a “staggered escape” that left her and her siblings terrified they wouldn’t survive or see each other again. But were it not for the show, in which Khan now plays a refugee himself, he may never have heard that story.

Set at the end of the Vietnam War, “The Sympathizer” follows a captain in the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese army (Hoa Xuande) who’s secretly spying for the North Vietnamese communists. As Saigon falls and the U.S. retreats, the Captain (as he’s called throughout) remains embedded and escapes to the Los Angeles while continuing to report back to his side about the dealings of the General (Toan Le) and his men — including one of his best friends, Bon (Khan), who knows nothing...

Robert Downey Jr. plays four characters in the satirical spy thriller, The Sympathizer, alongside a talented ensemble cast. The Captain, played by Hoa Xuande, navigates his new life in the US while interacting with pillars of American society. Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, and other actors deliver standout performances in supporting roles in the mini-series adaptation.

Robert Downey Jr. plays four separate characters in HBO's The Sympathizer, and the Iron Man star is joined in the cast by some new and familiar faces. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer tells the story of a deep-cover North Korean spy who is forced to continue his mission even after the Viet Cong win the Vietnam War. A compelling spy thriller with a rich vein of blackly comic satire, The Sympathizer has been adapted from Thanh Nguyen's novel by Oldboy director Park Chan-wook and screenwriter Don McKellar.

The life of a spy can be exciting, glamorous, and sexy, but it can also be deadly, especially when you are a sleeper agent whose loyalties are in question. The new HBO satirical/thriller series “The Sympathizer” premieres on Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. Et on Max and pulls the curtain back on the world of international espionage before and after the end of the Vietnam War. Starring Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr., the series has all of the makings of HBO’s next Sunday-night obsession. You can watch with a subscription to Max.

How to Watch ‘The Sympathizer’ Premiere When: Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 9:00 Pm Edt Where: Max Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max. Sign Up$9.99+ / month Max.com About ‘The Sympathizer’ Premiere

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, “The Sympathizer” chronicles the journey of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy known as the Captain...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for The Sympathizer, Fallout and Quiet on Set.

Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver screening

On April 5, Netflix hosted a fan screening in New York to celebrate the upcoming release of Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver with filmmakers Zack and Deborah Snyder and stars Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Michiel Huisman, Ed Skrein, Staz Nair, Fra Fee, Elise Duffy, Stuart Martin and Ray Fisher.

Wesley Coller, Stuart Martin, Ed Skrein, Staz Nair, Deborah Snyder, Eric Newman, Zack Snyder, Ray Fisher, Fra Fee, Djimon Hounsou, Elise Duffy, Sofia Boutella and Michiel Huisman

The Sympathizer premiere

Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Oh and Hoa Xuande walked the carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of their new HBO series on Tuesday.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey Sandra Oh, Hoa Xuande...