The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/24
02-15-24 | 10:18 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Moderator
The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/24
The Sympathizer, the new @HBO Original Limited Series from Robert Downey Jr., Park Chan-wook and a24, and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, premieres April 14.
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 resulting exile in the United States.
Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar co-showrun and executive produce. The cast is led by Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh; and star and executive producer 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 resulting exile in the United States.
Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar co-showrun and executive produce. The cast is led by Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh; and star and executive producer Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple roles.
02-16-24 | 03:42 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
This looks interesting, I saw this image floating around from the trailer which just reminds me of Tropic Thunder.
03-28-24 | 10:07 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Moderator
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
04-14-24 | 07:58 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Moderator
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Premieres tonight.
04-16-24 | 09:32 AM
#5
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Looks like this one may have as much draw as The Regime just had 
I thought it was interesting.
There's a lot of time jumps back and forth so you do have to pay attention.
I thought it was interesting.
There's a lot of time jumps back and forth so you do have to pay attention.
04-16-24 | 11:03 PM
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
This was fucking bad ass! Wow, those final minutes were beyond harrowing. Looked and sounded great in 4K DV/Atmos, too. RDJ was sleazy as hell.
For those that read books, there's a sequel book called The Committed.
For those that read books, there's a sequel book called The Committed.
04-18-24 | 06:54 PM
#7
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
I enjoyed the first part, interested enough to keep watching.
I was surprised during the end credits to see Don McKellar is Park Chan-wook's collaborator on this. He's had quite an eclectic career.
I was surprised during the end credits to see Don McKellar is Park Chan-wook's collaborator on this. He's had quite an eclectic career.
04-20-24 | 02:14 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Odd that even though she's shown in the trailer and her name is credited, Sandra Oh's not listed in the cast on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes.
05-26-24 | 09:50 PM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Just watched tonight's episode and it was cool. I guess that's a wrap on the series. 7 episodes total.
05-27-24 | 08:47 AM
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Wonder if McKellar wrote Sandra Oh's part with her specifically in mind - since they starred together in his excellent Last Night which he directed.
Odd that even though she's shown in the trailer and her name is credited, Sandra Oh's not listed in the cast on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes.
Odd that even though she's shown in the trailer and her name is credited, Sandra Oh's not listed in the cast on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes.
05-27-24 | 09:22 AM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
I do that today and now I see her. The list also looks bigger from when I originally checked, so I guess at some point they updated it with the true cast list.
05-27-24 | 11:07 AM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
She was in several episodes of the season.
08-09-25 | 01:06 PM
#13
DVD Talk God
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/par...ke-1236482956/
Park Chan-Wook and his writing partner Don McKellar were both expelled from the WGA for working on this show during the WGA strike in 2023
If you don't understand what this means. It means they will never be able to work on major studio productions in America again. Yes, pretty harsh punishment.
Park Chan-Wook and his writing partner Don McKellar were both expelled from the WGA for working on this show during the WGA strike in 2023
If you don't understand what this means. It means they will never be able to work on major studio productions in America again. Yes, pretty harsh punishment.
08-09-25 | 01:08 PM
#14
Moderator
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
I don't have HBO, but I read and loved the book.
08-09-25 | 01:24 PM
#15
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/par...ke-1236482956/
Park Chan-Wook and his writing partner Don McKellar were both expelled from the WGA for working on this show during the WGA strike in 2023
If you don't understand what this means. It means they will never be able to work on major studio productions in America again. Yes, pretty harsh punishment.
Park Chan-Wook and his writing partner Don McKellar were both expelled from the WGA for working on this show during the WGA strike in 2023
If you don't understand what this means. It means they will never be able to work on major studio productions in America again. Yes, pretty harsh punishment.
08-09-25 | 01:34 PM
#16
DVD Talk God
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
08-10-25 | 02:35 AM
#17
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
I think the punishment seems bigger on paper. Park Chan-wook barely works in Hollywood and McKellar hasn't written anything in 10 years prior to The Sympathizer and his next project is a Korean movie in collaberation with Park.
08-10-25 | 09:24 AM
#18
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
The punishment is the harshest they could impose.
How did they confirm that they had written work during the strike?
How did they confirm that they had written work during the strike?
08-10-25 | 11:18 AM
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Yeah, Don McKellar isn't exactly known for Hollywood productions. He'll be fine sticking with Canadian and European/Asian productions and working with people like Cronenberg and Egoyan.
08-10-25 | 11:26 AM
#20
DVD Talk God
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
08-11-25 | 09:30 AM
#21
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Yep, it fucking sucks, but you don't cross Union lines. I say this as someone that has been in a Union for over 25 years.
08-11-25 | 12:26 PM
#22
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Agree, but I imagine it's hard, as a writer, to completely turn off that part of your brain, especially when you get a great idea pop in your head. Not saying it's right, but must be hard to just ignore those thoughts as you sit at home for months.
08-11-25 | 05:11 PM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
Well you could still exercise that part of your brain just writing so long as you're not working for a studio/production company. Correct?
08-11-25 | 05:18 PM
#24
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Sympathizer (HBO) - limited series - S: Robert Downey, Jr., EP: Park Chan-wook - premieres 4/14/2
With the millions of dollars I assume Wook has, I would have made it work somehow. He'll be fine. His co-writer, not so much, unless he has other sources of income.
