New Delhi: Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Sympathizer will serve as the basis for an upcoming historical dark comedy-drama TV series with the same name. Don McKellar and Park Chan Wook collaborated on the show’s creation, and Park also served as the show’s director.
A24, HBO, and Rhobus Media have collaborated on the creation of The Sympathizer, and it will soon be available to stream online.
Hosted by Philip Nguyen, a scholar of Vietnamese-American culture, The Sympathizer is the official companion podcast to the HBO Original Limited Series #TheSympathizer, an espionage thriller and cross-cultural satire based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.… pic.twitter.com/s8wh7XkKMe
— HBO (@HBO) April 8, 2024
Plot
A North Vietnamese plant serving in the South Vietnamese army, the captain’s life is the inspiration for the series. Along with his general, he is compelled to escape to the United States as the Vietnam War draws to a close. Despite settling down with a group of South Vietnamese refugees, he can’t let go of his old allegiances and keeps spying on them and reporting back to the Viet Cong.
The series that combines aspects of dark comedy with elements of cross-cultural satire and spy thrillers is – The Sympathizer. A communist spy with mixed Vietnamese and French ancestry works as the captain towards the conclusion of the Vietnam War. Once hostilities have ceased and a period of tense calm has set in, the captain is sent to the United States to gather intelligence and report.
Carrying out his duties, the captain endures subtle but persistent prejudice, exposes societal hypocrisy, and manages to be the perfect smiling Asian all while attempting to keep his inner turmoil and secrets under control. By combining stunning visuals with heartfelt acting, the film guarantees an unforgettable viewing experience.
When and Where to Watch?
Beginning on April 14, 2024, viewers will be able to watch the limited series online on Max. On April 15, 2024, Jio Cinema subscribers in India will be able to see The Sympathizer.
#TheSympathizer, the new HBO Original Limited Series from Park Chan-wook and Robert Downey Jr. and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, premieres April 14 on Max.
— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 7, 2024
Cast and Crew
Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Oh, Scott Ly, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Tien Pham, Ky Duyen, VyVy Nguyen, and a plethora of other great actors and actresses make up the ensemble cast of The Sympathizer.
A24 optioned Viet Thanh Nguyen’s book The Sympathizer for a television series in April 2021, with Park Chan Wook serving as director. The production also includes Rhombus Media. The series was ordered by HBO from A24 in July.
