Game Loop.
Trace and I inadvertently bookended our April discussions of John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen) and Ciarán Foy’s Eli (listen) with Jude Law films. At the start of the month, we tackled Matt Damon’s Italian grifter in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and now we’re closing out April with David Cronenberg‘s eXistenZ (1999).
The unofficial sequel to Videodrome (listen) and precursor to Crimes of the Future, eXistenZ takes place in the world of virtual reality and simulation. Game goddess Allegra Gellar (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is forced to go on the run with PR nerd Ted Pikul (Jude Law) through the Canadian backwoods when ‘Realist’ terrorists declare open season on her life.
Featuring no shortage of strange encounters and oddball characters, including Willem Dafoe‘s queer-coded Gas and Canadian film royalty like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley, Allegra and Ted must travel between the...
Trace and I inadvertently bookended our April discussions of John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London (listen) and Ciarán Foy’s Eli (listen) with Jude Law films. At the start of the month, we tackled Matt Damon’s Italian grifter in The Talented Mr. Ripley (listen) and now we’re closing out April with David Cronenberg‘s eXistenZ (1999).
The unofficial sequel to Videodrome (listen) and precursor to Crimes of the Future, eXistenZ takes place in the world of virtual reality and simulation. Game goddess Allegra Gellar (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is forced to go on the run with PR nerd Ted Pikul (Jude Law) through the Canadian backwoods when ‘Realist’ terrorists declare open season on her life.
Featuring no shortage of strange encounters and oddball characters, including Willem Dafoe‘s queer-coded Gas and Canadian film royalty like Don McKellar and Sarah Polley, Allegra and Ted must travel between the...
- 4/29/2024
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
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...
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...
- 4/29/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
TV is positively cluttered with buzzy book adaptations; 2024 alone has given us “Ripley,” “3 Body Problem,” “Under the Bridge,” “Girls on the Bus,” “Apples Never Fall,” “Palm Royale,” and way too many others to really count. Few of these projects arrive to the screen with as much clout — and as high of expectations — as “The Sympathizer,” HBO’s newest limited series. Not only was Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 novel about the queasy half-existence of a North Vietnamese spy burrowed in the South Vietnamese army extremely popular when it hit book stores in 2015, it was also highly acclaimed, receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. That’s a lot for any show to live up to.
That said, the show certainly has the pedigree behind the cameras to match the original work. The HBO “Sympathizer” limited series comes from Korean auteur Park Chan-wook, who co-created the series with Don McKellar and directs...
That said, the show certainly has the pedigree behind the cameras to match the original work. The HBO “Sympathizer” limited series comes from Korean auteur Park Chan-wook, who co-created the series with Don McKellar and directs...
- 4/22/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
After giving an outstanding performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and grabbing the Academy Awards for the Best Supporting Actor Robert Downey Jr. is all set to work on his new project, The Sympathizer. He is going to portray four different characters in the movie: a director, a congressional representative, a professor, and a CIA operative. This project is going to be one of the most difficult projects that the Iron Man actor has put his hands on.
Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer
However, working with Nolan in the 2023 historical drama film, helped Rdj to go nuts with his idea of character development. Susan Downey, the actor’s wife gave an insight into how the Inception director’s intensive character process helped the actor. It allowed him to work on each character’s looks and physicality, making them look different from each other.
Christopher Nolan’s Strict...
Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer
However, working with Nolan in the 2023 historical drama film, helped Rdj to go nuts with his idea of character development. Susan Downey, the actor’s wife gave an insight into how the Inception director’s intensive character process helped the actor. It allowed him to work on each character’s looks and physicality, making them look different from each other.
Christopher Nolan’s Strict...
- 4/22/2024
- by Tushar Auddy
- FandomWire
Apocalypses in Canadian cinema tend to occur in slow motion, and have a subversive touch of quiet absurdity. The two undisputed classics of the genre are Don McKellar’s Last Night, and Bruce McDonald’s Pontypool. Caitlin Cronenberg aims for that lofty territory with her debut feature film, Humane. Set sometime in the near future, in late-stage climate crisis, citizens need solar umbrellas to go outside, and put protective film on the inside of their cars to keep the toxic sun out. Much of the world has collapsed into chaos, but Canada still limps along civilly, due to a government which has implemented a voluntary suicide programs called “Enlistment.” People can sign up to remove themselves from the population for a cash settlement that goes...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/20/2024
- Screen Anarchy
Not long after winning an Oscar for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr. is starring in perhaps his most challenging project to date: another high-profile one. The Iron Man star, 59, is starring in a new HBO Max series called The Sympathizer, in which, he is playing four antagonist roles combined.
In addition to playing a CIA agent, Downey Jr. portrays a professor, a congressman, and a film director (who was influenced by Francis Ford Coppola). Meanwhile, Hoa Xuande plays The Captain (a Vietnamese spy) in the HBO series, which is based on the critically acclaimed book of a similar title by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer
Behind The Sympathizer is Park Chan-wook, a renowned filmmaker best known for movies like Oldboy, and The Handmaiden. In a recent interview, the South Korean director and former film critic expressed his disappointment and regret at...
In addition to playing a CIA agent, Downey Jr. portrays a professor, a congressman, and a film director (who was influenced by Francis Ford Coppola). Meanwhile, Hoa Xuande plays The Captain (a Vietnamese spy) in the HBO series, which is based on the critically acclaimed book of a similar title by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer
Behind The Sympathizer is Park Chan-wook, a renowned filmmaker best known for movies like Oldboy, and The Handmaiden. In a recent interview, the South Korean director and former film critic expressed his disappointment and regret at...
- 4/16/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
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,...
“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,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
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.
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.
- 4/15/2024
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Following Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar win for Oppenheimer, new doors of opportunities opened for the actor. Starring in another prestige project, that came as one of his most challenging performances yet, Downey Jr. appeared in a supporting role in the recently released HBO series, The Sympathizer.
HBO series The Sympathizer (2024)
Based on the acclaimed book by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer stars Robert Downey Jr. in four different roles: a director, a congressional representative, a professor, and a CIA operative. While this came as a true challenge for the Iron Man star, the show creator revealed why the actor was booked to play four different roles.
The Sympathizer Creators Explained the Curious Casting of Robert Downey Jr.
Adapted from the novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen; Park Chan-wook, and Don McKellar came up with the brilliant idea for their recently released HBO show The Sympathizer. Starring Hoa Xuande as a Vietnamese spy named The Captain,...
HBO series The Sympathizer (2024)
Based on the acclaimed book by Viet Thanh Nguyen, The Sympathizer stars Robert Downey Jr. in four different roles: a director, a congressional representative, a professor, and a CIA operative. While this came as a true challenge for the Iron Man star, the show creator revealed why the actor was booked to play four different roles.
The Sympathizer Creators Explained the Curious Casting of Robert Downey Jr.
Adapted from the novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen; Park Chan-wook, and Don McKellar came up with the brilliant idea for their recently released HBO show The Sympathizer. Starring Hoa Xuande as a Vietnamese spy named The Captain,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for The Sympathizer Season 1 Episode 1, “Death Wish.”] South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and Don McKellar took on the task of adapting The Sympathizer book to the small screen. The limited series premiered on Sunday, April 14 on HBO, revealing its interpretation of the source material that’s highly praised for its unique style. The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over. Those who have read Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel know the book is narrated by the unnamed main character. The Sympathizer series named its leading man the Captain (played by Hoa Xuande), and they took a creative liberty in regards to the context of his narration. In the series premiere,...
- 4/15/2024
- TV Insider
“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,...
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,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Rachel Seo
- Variety Film + TV
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...
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...
- 4/14/2024
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Walton Goggins is no stranger to meaty roles he can make his own, and now the Emmy-nominated “Justified” actor is sinking his teeth into Amazon’s highly anticipated “Fallout,” an adaptation of the popular video game from “Westworld” duo Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. In the darkly funny post-apocalyptic series, which is now streaming on Prime Video, Goggins pulls double duty as The Ghoul, a disfigured, centuries-old immortal cowboy who’s been stripped of all his humanity, and Cooper Howard, the Hollywood actor he was before the bombs fell. But while Goggins often steals the show — a welcome habit at this point — it’s Ella Purnell’s Lucy who anchors the narrative. Raised in the underground fallout shelters known as Vaults, Lucy travels to the irradiated surface to search for her missing father (Kyle MacLachlan), and she’s shocked to discover a hyper-violent wasteland largely at odds with her inherently optimistic disposition,...
- 4/13/2024
- by Kaitlin Thomas
- Gold Derby
There’s an awful lot of pressure that comes with adapting an acclaimed novel for the screen, especially if it won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. HBO teams up with A24, the indie production company behind Beef and Euphoria, to take on that challenge with its small-screen take on The Sympathizer, the best-selling 2015 novel by Vietnamese-American academic and author Viet Thanh Nguyen. Revered South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, whose 2003 prison thriller Oldboy is said to have influenced Nguyen’s novel, leads the creative charge as co-creator, director, and writer alongside collaborator Don McKellar (Last Night), who is credited as co-showrunner and writer.
- 4/12/2024
- by Philiana Ng
- Primetimer
Fresh off of his Oppenheimer Oscar win, Robert Downey Jr. is playing not just one new character but four in upcoming HBO series The Sympathizer.
The series is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which is set at the end of the Vietnam war and follows an unnamed spy known as The Captain (played by Hoa Xuande) who flees to the United States, where he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong. In the show, Downey plays four different Americans who play a role in the spy’s journey: a CIA operative, a professor, a congressman and a movie director.
Park Chan-wook, who served as co-showrunner and directed several of the episodes, explained via a translator at the show’s Los Angeles premiere Tuesday that “even though each of the characters from all of the four have different...
The series is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, which is set at the end of the Vietnam war and follows an unnamed spy known as The Captain (played by Hoa Xuande) who flees to the United States, where he continues to gather intelligence and report back to the Viet Cong. In the show, Downey plays four different Americans who play a role in the spy’s journey: a CIA operative, a professor, a congressman and a movie director.
Park Chan-wook, who served as co-showrunner and directed several of the episodes, explained via a translator at the show’s Los Angeles premiere Tuesday that “even though each of the characters from all of the four have different...
- 4/10/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Even toward the end of The Sympathizer’s six-month shoot, Hoa Xuande would still sometimes look out over the set in disbelief and think, “Am I really sitting here? Are they really letting me do this?”
“This” would be toplining HBO and A24’s limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a communist North Vietnamese agent (known only as The Captain) embedded on the American-backed South Vietnamese side. It’s a dream role for any actor who relishes a challenge — multilayered, multilingual, packed with drama, comedy, sex and action — on a project with an impeccable pedigree. The seven-part series not only co-stars Robert Downey Jr. (who also executive produces) and Sandra Oh but counts legendary director Park Chan-wook as co-showrunner.
“This show was going to work or not based on this piece of casting,” says executive producer Susan Downey. “Finding The Captain was the most...
“This” would be toplining HBO and A24’s limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a communist North Vietnamese agent (known only as The Captain) embedded on the American-backed South Vietnamese side. It’s a dream role for any actor who relishes a challenge — multilayered, multilingual, packed with drama, comedy, sex and action — on a project with an impeccable pedigree. The seven-part series not only co-stars Robert Downey Jr. (who also executive produces) and Sandra Oh but counts legendary director Park Chan-wook as co-showrunner.
“This show was going to work or not based on this piece of casting,” says executive producer Susan Downey. “Finding The Captain was the most...
- 4/10/2024
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Plot: Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
Review: The initial teaser released in 2023 showed that The Sympathizer would be something special. Featuring writing and direction from Park Chan-wook alongside writer Don McKellar and featuring Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr in five distinct roles, The Sympathizer is not only an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel but a masterpiece of visual storytelling. A satirical blend of dark humor and visceral drama, The Sympathizer is unlike anything in recent memory. A startling perspective on the experience of the Vietnam War from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, this series spans years and genres...
Review: The initial teaser released in 2023 showed that The Sympathizer would be something special. Featuring writing and direction from Park Chan-wook alongside writer Don McKellar and featuring Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr in five distinct roles, The Sympathizer is not only an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel but a masterpiece of visual storytelling. A satirical blend of dark humor and visceral drama, The Sympathizer is unlike anything in recent memory. A startling perspective on the experience of the Vietnam War from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, this series spans years and genres...
- 4/10/2024
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s last foray into the television medium was for an adaptation of a John Le Carré novel, so it should come as no surprise that his next venture is also a spy thriller adaptation. The Sympathizer is an incredibly involved miniseries with many moving pieces, but thanks to an incredible team behind and in front of the camera, the pieces mostly come together in spectacular fashion.
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer tells the story of a North Vietnamese plant in the South Vietnamese army who flees to the United States as a refugee, kicking off a web of lies and deceit. Although it has the premise of an espionage thriller, there’s so much more here, and the result is thoroughly entertaining.
The show does struggle to explore some of its themes with the depth they deserve. There are...
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer tells the story of a North Vietnamese plant in the South Vietnamese army who flees to the United States as a refugee, kicking off a web of lies and deceit. Although it has the premise of an espionage thriller, there’s so much more here, and the result is thoroughly entertaining.
The show does struggle to explore some of its themes with the depth they deserve. There are...
- 4/10/2024
- by Sean Boelman
- FandomWire
On September 15, Robert Downey Jr. will almost certainly take home his first Emmy as best supporting actor in a limited series for HBO’s The Sympathizer.
It will be the latest coronation in a year of coronations for a star who is undisputedly one of our finest, and it will be difficult to begrudge; what Downey does in The Sympathizer hits that sweet spot between “ridiculously entertaining” and “a whole lot of acting” that award-givers love.
But two things can be true: Downey’s performance in The Sympathizer can be saluted as a dexterous feat of actorly gymnastics. At the same time, it’s the misplaced fulcrum that too often causes this seven-episode adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to lose its tonal and narrative balance.
This version of The Sympathizer is still substantive and audacious, a slab of satire and deeply felt human tragedy that’s worthy of conversation and consideration,...
It will be the latest coronation in a year of coronations for a star who is undisputedly one of our finest, and it will be difficult to begrudge; what Downey does in The Sympathizer hits that sweet spot between “ridiculously entertaining” and “a whole lot of acting” that award-givers love.
But two things can be true: Downey’s performance in The Sympathizer can be saluted as a dexterous feat of actorly gymnastics. At the same time, it’s the misplaced fulcrum that too often causes this seven-episode adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to lose its tonal and narrative balance.
This version of The Sympathizer is still substantive and audacious, a slab of satire and deeply felt human tragedy that’s worthy of conversation and consideration,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar’s The Sympathizer is a post-Vietnam War tale about a man struggling to be two things at once: Vietnamese and American, capitalist and communist, solider and friend. Ironically, the eight-part miniseries itself achieves a similar duality, succeeding as both an almost academic inquisition into the nebulous nature of racial identity and a raucous spy tale, as well as a high-speed comedy and a dark, biting drama.
Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer revolves around a character known simply as the Captain. Played by Hoa Xuande, the Captain is a half-French, half-Vietnamese spy and self-described “man of two faces.” By all appearances, he’s a member of South Vietnam’s secret police and an ally to the Americans. In truth, the Captain is an agent of the communists, working undercover to ensure their revolution is a success—or,...
Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer revolves around a character known simply as the Captain. Played by Hoa Xuande, the Captain is a half-French, half-Vietnamese spy and self-described “man of two faces.” By all appearances, he’s a member of South Vietnam’s secret police and an ally to the Americans. In truth, the Captain is an agent of the communists, working undercover to ensure their revolution is a success—or,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Ross McIndoe
- Slant Magazine
Jon Favreau On Robert Downey Jr As Iron Man. (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Robert Downey Jr turns 59 today! Rdj has entertained the audience for three decades or more with incredible stories, characters and performances. After working in Hollywood for many years, Robert won his first Oscar Award this year for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film, Oppenheimer. However, one character that fans will never stop associating him with is Iron Man.
In 2008, Marvel released Iron Man, and it forever changed the fate of the studio and also Robert Downey Jr! Due to his drug addiction, the Tropic Thunder actor was often arrested between 1996 to 2001. Hence, Rdj didn’t really have a great reputation in Hollywood. However, director Jon Favreau’s faith in him and Robert’s charismatic screen presence and impeccable performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man changed everything.
But did you know that when Jon Favreau initially approached Marvel Studios...
Robert Downey Jr turns 59 today! Rdj has entertained the audience for three decades or more with incredible stories, characters and performances. After working in Hollywood for many years, Robert won his first Oscar Award this year for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film, Oppenheimer. However, one character that fans will never stop associating him with is Iron Man.
In 2008, Marvel released Iron Man, and it forever changed the fate of the studio and also Robert Downey Jr! Due to his drug addiction, the Tropic Thunder actor was often arrested between 1996 to 2001. Hence, Rdj didn’t really have a great reputation in Hollywood. However, director Jon Favreau’s faith in him and Robert’s charismatic screen presence and impeccable performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man changed everything.
But did you know that when Jon Favreau initially approached Marvel Studios...
- 4/4/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
HBO Max, the streaming service of Warner Bros. Discovery, is now available to customers of Spanish streamer Movistar+’s Ficción Total package, the companies said on Tuesday.
“Customers can enjoy HBO Max via direct access through the main Movistar Plus+ navigation and the on-demand service,” they said. Financial details weren’t disclosed.
“The deal will also see Wbd’s new enhanced streaming platfrom Max become available to Movistar+ customers on May 21,” the partners said. “The launch of Max is marked by the eagerly awaited second season of the HBO original series House of the Dragon season 2, which premieres in Europe on June 17th.”
Among the HBO Max series and movies now available under the deal are the likes of The Last of Us, Succession, House of the Dragon, Dune, Wonka, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
“This summer, Max will be the only place to watch every minute of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,...
“Customers can enjoy HBO Max via direct access through the main Movistar Plus+ navigation and the on-demand service,” they said. Financial details weren’t disclosed.
“The deal will also see Wbd’s new enhanced streaming platfrom Max become available to Movistar+ customers on May 21,” the partners said. “The launch of Max is marked by the eagerly awaited second season of the HBO original series House of the Dragon season 2, which premieres in Europe on June 17th.”
Among the HBO Max series and movies now available under the deal are the likes of The Last of Us, Succession, House of the Dragon, Dune, Wonka, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
“This summer, Max will be the only place to watch every minute of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Sympathizer: Robert Downey Jr’s TV Comeback (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Robert Downey Jr has come back to television after over two decades. The legendary actor famous for suiting up as Iron Man is gearing up for a big return to TV screens. He’s set to headline an HBO series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s award-winning novel, The Sympathizer, as per reports.
Downey is getting ready to dive into several supporting characters in The Sympathizer, embodying various antagonists such as “an up-and-coming Orange County congressman, a CIA agent, and a Hollywood film director, among others,” as revealed in a press release. Casting for the main role is currently in full swing.
Deadline broke the news first. This gig signals Robert Downey Jr’s comeback to TV after two decades, making it his first regular small-screen role since his stint on Ally McBeal back in 2002.
Trending The First...
Robert Downey Jr has come back to television after over two decades. The legendary actor famous for suiting up as Iron Man is gearing up for a big return to TV screens. He’s set to headline an HBO series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s award-winning novel, The Sympathizer, as per reports.
Downey is getting ready to dive into several supporting characters in The Sympathizer, embodying various antagonists such as “an up-and-coming Orange County congressman, a CIA agent, and a Hollywood film director, among others,” as revealed in a press release. Casting for the main role is currently in full swing.
Deadline broke the news first. This gig signals Robert Downey Jr’s comeback to TV after two decades, making it his first regular small-screen role since his stint on Ally McBeal back in 2002.
Trending The First...
- 4/2/2024
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
HBO has released the official trailer and key art for the seven-episode HBO Original limited series The Sympathizer, debuting Sunday, April 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m. Et/Pt). Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar co-showrun and executive produce. The series stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Emmy® winner Sandra Oh and Academy Award® nominee Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple roles. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of ... Read more...
- 3/28/2024
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
“Welcome to the world of spycraft!”
HBO released the newest trailer for its upcoming series The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Robert Downey Jr. stars in and executive produces the seven-episode show alongside his wife and producing partner Susan Downey.
“Biracial. Bilingual. I was a synthesis of incompatibilities, so what did I do?” Hoa Xuande’s The Captain says at the beginning of the trailer, over scenes of his spy work. “Saigon 1975. I was a man of two faces. The war was ending, and I awaited my new assignment.”
When his handler, played by Downey, appears in Vietnam, he tells The Captain his next job for the CIA is in America. “By the time I’m through with you, you’ll be able to blend in with the Harvard rowing crew,” Downey tells him.
As the two-and-half-minute trailer goes on, it...
HBO released the newest trailer for its upcoming series The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Robert Downey Jr. stars in and executive produces the seven-episode show alongside his wife and producing partner Susan Downey.
“Biracial. Bilingual. I was a synthesis of incompatibilities, so what did I do?” Hoa Xuande’s The Captain says at the beginning of the trailer, over scenes of his spy work. “Saigon 1975. I was a man of two faces. The war was ending, and I awaited my new assignment.”
When his handler, played by Downey, appears in Vietnam, he tells The Captain his next job for the CIA is in America. “By the time I’m through with you, you’ll be able to blend in with the Harvard rowing crew,” Downey tells him.
As the two-and-half-minute trailer goes on, it...
- 3/28/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO has released the official trailer for its seven-episode limited series The Sympathizer, which will premiere on Sunday, April 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m. Et/Pt). In addition to premiering on HBO, the series will be available to stream on Max.
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar co-showrun and executive produce the show, which comes from A24.
The series stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Emmy winner Sandra Oh, and Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple roles.
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar co-showrun and executive produce the show, which comes from A24.
The series stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Emmy winner Sandra Oh, and Academy Award nominee Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple roles.
- 3/28/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Robert Downey Jr. may newly be wearing the title of Oscar winner, but the “Oppenheimer” star is shedding all semblance of self for Park Chan-wook’s “The Sympathizer.”
Downey is a chameleon in multiple roles for the HBO seven-episode limited series, co-showrun by Park and Don McKellar who both executive produce. “The Sympathizer” is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and is at once an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy (Hoa Xuande) during the final days of the Vietnam War. As he starts his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
“The Sympathizer” cast also includes Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong. The series is a co-production between A24 and HBO,...
Downey is a chameleon in multiple roles for the HBO seven-episode limited series, co-showrun by Park and Don McKellar who both executive produce. “The Sympathizer” is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and is at once an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy (Hoa Xuande) during the final days of the Vietnam War. As he starts his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
“The Sympathizer” cast also includes Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong. The series is a co-production between A24 and HBO,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
"Welcome to the world of spycraft!" Here we go - finally a proper trailer for this! Max has revealed the full official trailer for The Sympathizer series, following two intriguing teaser trailers already. Looks damn good! This is an adaptation of the award-winning book of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. It's developed by Don McKellar as a series, along with Korean mastermind Park Chan-wook, who is directing a few episodes as well. The series is an espionage thriller from A24 + HBO Max. Near the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, a plant who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community, where he continues to secretly spy and report back to the Viet Cong. Hoa Xuande stars as "The Captain" spy main character, with Robert Downey Jr. as multiple American antagonist characters (all...
- 3/28/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Robert Downey Jr. appears to be traveling further down the road that won him the Oscar this year. After playing the antagonist Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, Downey Jr. has landed another antagonist role in the upcoming HBO series, The Sympathizer. When glimpses of his performance in the series were released on social media, fans were pretty sure that the actor is aiming for the Primetime Emmys next.
Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer
Besides his acting role in the series, Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey serve as the executive producers of the series. The Sympathizer is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Robert Downey Jr. Eyeing The Emmys Next After Oscar Win With New Series Role
Robert Downey Jr. aims for the Emmys with his new role(s) in The Sympathizer
Robert Downey Jr. was seen in at...
Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer
Besides his acting role in the series, Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey serve as the executive producers of the series. The Sympathizer is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Robert Downey Jr. Eyeing The Emmys Next After Oscar Win With New Series Role
Robert Downey Jr. aims for the Emmys with his new role(s) in The Sympathizer
Robert Downey Jr. was seen in at...
- 3/28/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
(Robert Downey Jr On Scripts Photo Credit – IMDb; Flickr )
Robert Downey Jr recently won an Oscar award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in Oppenheimer. In Christopher Nolan’s 2023 biographical war drama, the actor played Lewis Strauss and left a major impact with his outstanding performance. The Oscar-winning film also stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Gary Oldman, Benny Safdie, Matthias Schweighofer, Jack Quaid, Rami Malek, and Josh Peck.
In his career of three decades, Rdj has won hearts with his incredible acts in several movies, including Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, Due Date, The Judge, Tropic Thunder, and many more. For the past many years, Robert Downey Jr has been surprising his fans with exciting choices. One might think the actor is quite careful about what he signs and must be thoroughly going through the scripts and stories. However, in an interview in the past,...
Robert Downey Jr recently won an Oscar award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in Oppenheimer. In Christopher Nolan’s 2023 biographical war drama, the actor played Lewis Strauss and left a major impact with his outstanding performance. The Oscar-winning film also stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Gary Oldman, Benny Safdie, Matthias Schweighofer, Jack Quaid, Rami Malek, and Josh Peck.
In his career of three decades, Rdj has won hearts with his incredible acts in several movies, including Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, Due Date, The Judge, Tropic Thunder, and many more. For the past many years, Robert Downey Jr has been surprising his fans with exciting choices. One might think the actor is quite careful about what he signs and must be thoroughly going through the scripts and stories. However, in an interview in the past,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the Max streaming service in April. The Max April 2024 lineup includes the HBO original limited series The Sympathizer, the Max original unscripted series Conan O’Brien Must Go, and the HBO original comedy special Alex Edelman: Just for Us.
The April schedule also includes the HBO original documentary series The Jinx – Part Two and The Synanon Fix, the HBO original documentaries Brandy Hellville & The Cult Of Fast Fashion and An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, season four of HBO original We’re Here, And A24’s The Zone of Interest.
Sports fans will be able to watch live games from the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and studio coverage airing on TBS, TNT, and truTV. The coverage will include the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Semifinals and the 2024 Men’s National Championship.
The April schedule also includes the HBO original documentary series The Jinx – Part Two and The Synanon Fix, the HBO original documentaries Brandy Hellville & The Cult Of Fast Fashion and An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, season four of HBO original We’re Here, And A24’s The Zone of Interest.
Sports fans will be able to watch live games from the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and studio coverage airing on TBS, TNT, and truTV. The coverage will include the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Semifinals and the 2024 Men’s National Championship.
- 3/23/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
The 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen served as the inspiration for the upcoming historical television series, The Sympathizer. Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar developed the series, and Park also served as its director.
The series is produced by A24 and Rhombus Media. The Sympathizer is the first book that Professor Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American, published in 2015. It is a best-selling book that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016.
The book was named on over 30 lists of the Best Books of the Year, won an Editor’s Choice award from the New York Times, and garnered generally excellent reviews from critics. Sounds fabulous, right?
The book borrows aspects from several various novel genres, including historical fiction, mystery, political fiction, dark comedy, immigration, spy, and war.
The Sympathizer Plot
The Captain, a North Vietnamese plant in the South Vietnamese army, is the subject of the television series.
The series is produced by A24 and Rhombus Media. The Sympathizer is the first book that Professor Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American, published in 2015. It is a best-selling book that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016.
The book was named on over 30 lists of the Best Books of the Year, won an Editor’s Choice award from the New York Times, and garnered generally excellent reviews from critics. Sounds fabulous, right?
The book borrows aspects from several various novel genres, including historical fiction, mystery, political fiction, dark comedy, immigration, spy, and war.
The Sympathizer Plot
The Captain, a North Vietnamese plant in the South Vietnamese army, is the subject of the television series.
- 3/15/2024
- by Gandharv Sanjay Gedam
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
War, spy games, political intrigue, social commentary, and plenty of 1970s style -- all wrapped up into one exciting limited series.
In July 2021, HBO announced it had ordered The Sympathizer as a series, with Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar signed on as co-showrunners.
The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a communist spy during the Vietnam War and his eventual life in the United States.
In 2021, Nguyen announced his novel was optioned by production studio A24. Robert Downey Jr. soon joined as a producer and costar.
The Sympathizer will be executive produced and directed by filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who also worked on Snowpiercer, Oldboy, and The Little Drummer Girl.
Other directors for the show include Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, known for City of God, and English director Marc Munden, known for Utopia and National Treasure.
Notable writers for The Sympathizer include Mark Richard (The Man in the High Castle...
In July 2021, HBO announced it had ordered The Sympathizer as a series, with Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar signed on as co-showrunners.
The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a communist spy during the Vietnam War and his eventual life in the United States.
In 2021, Nguyen announced his novel was optioned by production studio A24. Robert Downey Jr. soon joined as a producer and costar.
The Sympathizer will be executive produced and directed by filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who also worked on Snowpiercer, Oldboy, and The Little Drummer Girl.
Other directors for the show include Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, known for City of God, and English director Marc Munden, known for Utopia and National Treasure.
Notable writers for The Sympathizer include Mark Richard (The Man in the High Castle...
- 3/8/2024
- by Shela Ward
- TVfanatic
The Sympathizer has a premiere date. HBO has announced the spy drama will arrive in April with the release of a teaser. Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar serve as co-showrunners and executive produce the seven-episode series.
Starring Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh with Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple roles, the HBO drama is based on the novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and is set during the Vietnam War.
Read More…...
Starring Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh with Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple roles, the HBO drama is based on the novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and is set during the Vietnam War.
Read More…...
- 2/19/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
While we were denied the chance to see Robert Downey Jr. as Perry Mason in the eponymous show he produced (Matthew Rhys ended up taking the role), The Sympathizer, is a different beast entirely. He'll play multiple roles in that one, while Oldboy and The Handmaiden's Park Chan-wook is in charge. A new trailer for the series is online and you can see it below:
Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer stars Hoa Xuande as the half-French, half-Vietnamese communist who becomes wrapped up in spying on his own government and military for the CIA. But where do his loyalties truly lie?
Downey Jr. here plays multiple roles, including the spy's handler, while the cast also includes Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong and Sandra Oh.
Working alongside Park Chan-wook (who executive produces and directs the...
Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer stars Hoa Xuande as the half-French, half-Vietnamese communist who becomes wrapped up in spying on his own government and military for the CIA. But where do his loyalties truly lie?
Downey Jr. here plays multiple roles, including the spy's handler, while the cast also includes Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong and Sandra Oh.
Working alongside Park Chan-wook (who executive produces and directs the...
- 2/15/2024
- by James White
- Empire - TV
HBO has released a new trailer and announced a premiere date for The Sympathizer, infiltrating the network’s Max streaming service on April 14. The limited series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel looks like a must-watch event for spy thriller fans who enjoy infiltration with a comedic edge. Today’s The Sympathizer trailer is a hoot and a half. Try to spot all the incarnations of Robert Downey Jr. before the reveal at the end!
The series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. Hoa Xuande leads the series, with Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh. Robert Downey Jr. pops up in multiple roles, but could they all be the same character in disguise?...
The series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. Hoa Xuande leads the series, with Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh. Robert Downey Jr. pops up in multiple roles, but could they all be the same character in disguise?...
- 2/15/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
HBO has just dropped the trailer for its much-anticipated limited series, ‘The Sympathizer’, and it’s creating quite the buzz. While they’ve kept the exact release date under wraps, we do know it’s set to premiere in mid-April. This espionage thriller is not just any series; it’s a seven-episode journey that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Leading the charge are Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, who have put their creative genius into co-showrunning and executive-producing this masterpiece. The cast is nothing short of spectacular, with talents like Hoa Xuande, the ever-talented Sandra Oh, and the versatile Robert Downey Jr., who isn’t just playing one, but multiple intriguing roles.
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, ‘The Sympathizer’ takes you into the life of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy caught in the turmoil of the Vietnam War’s last days.
Leading the charge are Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, who have put their creative genius into co-showrunning and executive-producing this masterpiece. The cast is nothing short of spectacular, with talents like Hoa Xuande, the ever-talented Sandra Oh, and the versatile Robert Downey Jr., who isn’t just playing one, but multiple intriguing roles.
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, ‘The Sympathizer’ takes you into the life of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy caught in the turmoil of the Vietnam War’s last days.
- 2/15/2024
- by Hrvoje Milakovic
- Fiction Horizon
Oscar frontrunner Robert Downey Jr. stars alongside newcomer Hoa Xuande as well as Emmy nominee Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong – and then also Downey, Downey, and Downey again – in the new series “The Sympathizer.” The limited event from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook (“Oldboy”) and Don McKellar debuts on HBO beginning April 14.
About the Downey of it all: The “Oppenheimer” star, who is widely expected to win his first Oscar for the film during the Academy Awards on March 10, plays four roles in “The Sympathizer,” with each distinct character representing a form of American imperialism.
“I was astounded by how quickly he was able to come up with a very different performance—he’d do a different improv for each and every take,” Park told Vanity Fair in an interview published Thursday to coincide with the new...
About the Downey of it all: The “Oppenheimer” star, who is widely expected to win his first Oscar for the film during the Academy Awards on March 10, plays four roles in “The Sympathizer,” with each distinct character representing a form of American imperialism.
“I was astounded by how quickly he was able to come up with a very different performance—he’d do a different improv for each and every take,” Park told Vanity Fair in an interview published Thursday to coincide with the new...
- 2/15/2024
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
In The Sympathizer, Robert Downey Jr. is everywhere.
HBO released a new trailer for the espionage thriller on Thursday showcasing executive producer Downey Jr. playing multiple characters. The upcoming limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel will premiere on Sunday, April 19 at 9 pm Et.
More from TVLineEvil to End With Season 4 - Watch Trailer, Find Out When It'll PremiereX-Men: The Animated Series Sequel Gets Release Date - Watch TrailerTVLine Items: Brittany Snow Joins Malin Åkerman in Starz Thriller, Outlander Prequel Casting and More
With Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Joint Security Area) and Don McKellar (Michael: Every Day) serving as its co-showrunners,...
HBO released a new trailer for the espionage thriller on Thursday showcasing executive producer Downey Jr. playing multiple characters. The upcoming limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel will premiere on Sunday, April 19 at 9 pm Et.
More from TVLineEvil to End With Season 4 - Watch Trailer, Find Out When It'll PremiereX-Men: The Animated Series Sequel Gets Release Date - Watch TrailerTVLine Items: Brittany Snow Joins Malin Åkerman in Starz Thriller, Outlander Prequel Casting and More
With Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Joint Security Area) and Don McKellar (Michael: Every Day) serving as its co-showrunners,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
You know what I love? I love seeing actors act. That sounds incredibly obvious laid out like that, but I swear it makes a weird amount of sense when it comes to Robert Downey, Jr. Nobody could ever doubt the man's talent or ambition, pulling himself up by his bootstraps to go from persona non grata in Hollywood to one of the biggest stars on the planet. But even the biggest fans of his performances as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would have to admit that he hadn't exactly been given the most challenging material in the years since he starred in David Fincher's "Zodiac". But now that his superhero tenure is behind him, Downey, Jr. has been free to deliver powerhouse performances like in last year's blockbuster "Oppenheimer" or, even more intriguingly, the upcoming HBO series "The Sympathizer."
And to think that he's not even the biggest draw.
And to think that he's not even the biggest draw.
- 2/15/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
"I infiltrated the enemy, and did everything to undermine them, because I am a communist – undercover." HBO Max has debuted a second "teaser" trailer for The Sympathizer series, even though it runs a full two minutes like a regular trailer (catch the first teaser again here). This is an adaptation of the award-winning book of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. It's developed by Don McKellar, along with Korean mastermind Park Chan-wook, who is directing a few episodes as well. The series is an espionage thriller and also cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy from the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the USA. Hoa Xuande stars as the Captain, with Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple American antagonist characters. The cast includes Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Duy Nguyễn, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Kieu Chinh.
- 2/15/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
HBO has released a new trailer and set a premiere date for The Sympathizer — a date will allow the show to just make it under the wire for Emmy eligibility.
The limited series, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is part spy thriller and part satire. It follows the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy through the final days of the Vietnam War and in his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over. It’s scheduled to premiere April 14, which would put its seventh and last episode on May 26, a few days before the eligibility window for the 2024 Emmys closes.
Ordered to series in July 2021, The Sympathizer is a co-production of HBO, A24 and Rhombus Media, in association with Moho Film and Cinetic Media. Don McKellar (Sensitive Skin, Last Night) and Park Chan-wook (Oldboy...
The limited series, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is part spy thriller and part satire. It follows the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy through the final days of the Vietnam War and in his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over. It’s scheduled to premiere April 14, which would put its seventh and last episode on May 26, a few days before the eligibility window for the 2024 Emmys closes.
Ordered to series in July 2021, The Sympathizer is a co-production of HBO, A24 and Rhombus Media, in association with Moho Film and Cinetic Media. Don McKellar (Sensitive Skin, Last Night) and Park Chan-wook (Oldboy...
- 2/15/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Syfy has announced its spring and summer slate of television series, including “Chucky” and “Reginald the Vampire.”
The network revealed the dates during NBCUniversal’s portion of the TV Critics Assn. winter press tour in Pasadena. The second half of Season 3 of “Chucky” will premiere April 10 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt. Season 2 of “Reginald the Vampire” will premiere May 8 at 10 p.m. and Season 2 of “The Ark” will arrive in the summer. Additionally, the horror drama “SurrealEstate” has been renewed for Season 3.
In Season 3 of “Chucky,” the murderous doll finds himself in the White House. Meanwhile, “Reginald the Vampire” follows a man who “finally got his life together when he was turned into a vampire.”
“The Ark” is set “100 years in the future when planetary colonization missions have begun as a necessity to help secure the survival of the human race. The first of these missions on a spacecraft known...
The network revealed the dates during NBCUniversal’s portion of the TV Critics Assn. winter press tour in Pasadena. The second half of Season 3 of “Chucky” will premiere April 10 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt. Season 2 of “Reginald the Vampire” will premiere May 8 at 10 p.m. and Season 2 of “The Ark” will arrive in the summer. Additionally, the horror drama “SurrealEstate” has been renewed for Season 3.
In Season 3 of “Chucky,” the murderous doll finds himself in the White House. Meanwhile, “Reginald the Vampire” follows a man who “finally got his life together when he was turned into a vampire.”
“The Ark” is set “100 years in the future when planetary colonization missions have begun as a necessity to help secure the survival of the human race. The first of these missions on a spacecraft known...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jaden Thompson, Diego Ramos Bechara and Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
‘Cuts deep… reminiscent of Cronenberg’s freaky ’80s masterpiece The Fly… delightfully provocative…’
★★★★
NME
‘Akin to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return… Thoughtful, poignant, confusing, funny, sexy, gross – it’s a lot… long live the new flesh’
Little White Lies
From the auteur of body horror himself – visionary director David Cronenberg – comes the critically acclaimed Crimes Of The Future in a brand-new Limited Edition Dual 4K/Blu-ray Box Set.
The 2022 sci-fi epic has been lauded as ‘provocatively feverish stuff from the dearly missed vintage annals of Cronenberg’ (Rogerbert.com), and bears the Canadian maestro’s hallmarks, delving into the depths of dystopia to bring audiences fresh iterations of horror and now Crimes of The Future is available now from the masters in the field Second Sight Films.
The box set comes as a dual format edition, including both Uhd and Blu-ray versions, with the main feature and bonus features...
★★★★
NME
‘Akin to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return… Thoughtful, poignant, confusing, funny, sexy, gross – it’s a lot… long live the new flesh’
Little White Lies
From the auteur of body horror himself – visionary director David Cronenberg – comes the critically acclaimed Crimes Of The Future in a brand-new Limited Edition Dual 4K/Blu-ray Box Set.
The 2022 sci-fi epic has been lauded as ‘provocatively feverish stuff from the dearly missed vintage annals of Cronenberg’ (Rogerbert.com), and bears the Canadian maestro’s hallmarks, delving into the depths of dystopia to bring audiences fresh iterations of horror and now Crimes of The Future is available now from the masters in the field Second Sight Films.
The box set comes as a dual format edition, including both Uhd and Blu-ray versions, with the main feature and bonus features...
- 1/4/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Though we're having to wait a little longer than planned for small screen offerings to properly return, it's reassuring to know that there are plenty on the way. Among the most anticipated from HBO are the likes of The Penguin, :a[It]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/stephen-king-2017-review/' } prequel Welcome To Derry, which might change its name on the way to screens, and as recently :a[spotlighted in its own trailer]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/tv/news/jodie-fosters-on-a-very-cold-case-in-the-new-true-detective-night-country-trailer/' }, True Detective: Night Country, which stars Jodie Foster. Check out the teaser…
The Penguin, of course, will follow the rise of Colin Farrell's Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot as he battles for the control of Gotham City in this spin-off from Matt Reeves' :a[The Batman]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-batman/' }. And then there's The Sympathizer from filmmakers Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, which stars Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr...
The Penguin, of course, will follow the rise of Colin Farrell's Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot as he battles for the control of Gotham City in this spin-off from Matt Reeves' :a[The Batman]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-batman/' }. And then there's The Sympathizer from filmmakers Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, which stars Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr...
- 12/6/2023
- by James White
- Empire - TV
Olivia Wilde has officially lined up her first post-“Don’t Worry Darling” directing gig.
Wilde has signed on to direct the TV adaptation of Jennifer Egan’s 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “A Visit from the Goon Squad” and its 2022 follow-up “The Candy House” for A24. Wilde will also executive produce along with Jennifer Fox.
“A Visit from the Goon Squad” is a set of 13 interconnected stories all linking back to fictional record company executive Bennie Salazar and his assistant, Sasha. “The Candy House” continues their shared story.
The A24 adaptation marks Wilde’s first major TV directing gig. Wilde made her directorial debut on the 2019 film “Booksmart” and won an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Wilde is also set to direct an untitled Marvel film around the Spider-Woman character for Sony and Pascal Pictures and is developing a Christmas buddy comedy at Universal.
A24 most recently swept the 2023 Oscars...
Wilde has signed on to direct the TV adaptation of Jennifer Egan’s 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “A Visit from the Goon Squad” and its 2022 follow-up “The Candy House” for A24. Wilde will also executive produce along with Jennifer Fox.
“A Visit from the Goon Squad” is a set of 13 interconnected stories all linking back to fictional record company executive Bennie Salazar and his assistant, Sasha. “The Candy House” continues their shared story.
The A24 adaptation marks Wilde’s first major TV directing gig. Wilde made her directorial debut on the 2019 film “Booksmart” and won an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Wilde is also set to direct an untitled Marvel film around the Spider-Woman character for Sony and Pascal Pictures and is developing a Christmas buddy comedy at Universal.
A24 most recently swept the 2023 Oscars...
- 4/14/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Image Source: HBO
HBO's new miniseries "The Sympathizer" tells the complicated story of a man known only as the Captain who's planted by North Vietnam as a spy in the South Vietnam army before the Vietnam war ends. He flees to the US after the war, where he lives as a South Korean refugee, keeping his spy activity for the Viet Cong a secret. In the first teaser for the series, shared April 12, the Captain - played by Hoa Xuande - comes face-to-face with multiple antagonists all played by Robert Downey Jr., who question him at every turn. Watch the teaser ahead.
"The Sympathizer" is a joint project between HBO and A24, and it'll air on the network in 2024. HBO shared the teaser as part of their announcement that HBO Max is becoming a new streaming service, called simply Max. The show will stream on Max when it airs next year.
HBO's new miniseries "The Sympathizer" tells the complicated story of a man known only as the Captain who's planted by North Vietnam as a spy in the South Vietnam army before the Vietnam war ends. He flees to the US after the war, where he lives as a South Korean refugee, keeping his spy activity for the Viet Cong a secret. In the first teaser for the series, shared April 12, the Captain - played by Hoa Xuande - comes face-to-face with multiple antagonists all played by Robert Downey Jr., who question him at every turn. Watch the teaser ahead.
"The Sympathizer" is a joint project between HBO and A24, and it'll air on the network in 2024. HBO shared the teaser as part of their announcement that HBO Max is becoming a new streaming service, called simply Max. The show will stream on Max when it airs next year.
- 4/13/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
HBO Max has launched a teaser trailer for the espionage thriller ‘The Sympathizer.’
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the series will be an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States.
Robert Downey Jr. is set to play multiple supporting roles as the main antagonists across the series – all representing a different arm of the American establishment.
Sandra Oh, Kieu Chinh, Ky Duyen, Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Duy Nguyen, Kayli Tran and VyVy Nguyen star.
Director Park Chan-wook is on board as co-showrunner, along with Don McKellar. Park, Marc Munden (“Utopia”) and Fernando Meirelles (“The Two Popes”) share directing duties on the project.
Park, McKellar, Downey, Susan Downey, Niv Fichman, Kim Ly, Ron Schmidt, Viet Thanh Nguyen,...
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the series will be an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States.
Robert Downey Jr. is set to play multiple supporting roles as the main antagonists across the series – all representing a different arm of the American establishment.
Sandra Oh, Kieu Chinh, Ky Duyen, Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Duy Nguyen, Kayli Tran and VyVy Nguyen star.
Director Park Chan-wook is on board as co-showrunner, along with Don McKellar. Park, Marc Munden (“Utopia”) and Fernando Meirelles (“The Two Popes”) share directing duties on the project.
Park, McKellar, Downey, Susan Downey, Niv Fichman, Kim Ly, Ron Schmidt, Viet Thanh Nguyen,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Among the many HBO announcements earlier today was the first official teaser trailer for The Sympathizer, an original limited series which features Robert Downey Jr. in what appears to be multiple roles. You can check out The Sympathizer teaser above!
The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. Hoa Xuande leads the series, with Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh also starring. As you can see in The Sympathizer teaser trailer, Robert Downey Jr. pops up in multiple roles, but could they all be the same character in disguise?
Related The Sympathizer: Robert Downey Jr’s new...
The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. Hoa Xuande leads the series, with Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh also starring. As you can see in The Sympathizer teaser trailer, Robert Downey Jr. pops up in multiple roles, but could they all be the same character in disguise?
Related The Sympathizer: Robert Downey Jr’s new...
- 4/12/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
"Welcome to the world of spycraft!" HBO Max has revealed yet another early first look teaser for a 2024 series as part of its "Max" announcement. The Sympathizer is an adaptation of the award-winning book of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen. This version is developed by Don McKellar, with Korean mastermind Park Chan-wook, who is directing a few episodes as well. Max says it's still set for release in 2024, so don't expect it anytime soon. The series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States. Hoa Xuande stars as the Captain, with Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple American antagonist characters. The cast includes Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Duy Nguyễn, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Sandra Oh, and Kieu Chinh. Oh damn - this looks like an intricate,...
- 4/12/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.