FX’s “Shogun” had planned to shoot in Japan; due to the pandemic, the production shifted to Vancouver.
Production designer Helen Jarvis had never been to Japan, nor had she read James Clavell’s original novel that the series is based on. Nonetheless, she was determined to bring authenticity to the locations when building the world of feudal Japan in the 1600s. FX’s drama series required Jarvis to transform two exterior backlots and two soundstages, building everything from a fishing village to a harbor to royal palaces.
Speaking with Variety, Jarvis says, “At the time, Osaka was a significantly large city. It’s a very convoluted coastline. If you look at a contemporary view, it’s mostly built up with concrete with many inlets and there wasn’t one huge harbor.”
The old mill was a cedar factory with a man-made inlet; it became the perfect setting to build the port and fishing harbor.
Production designer Helen Jarvis had never been to Japan, nor had she read James Clavell’s original novel that the series is based on. Nonetheless, she was determined to bring authenticity to the locations when building the world of feudal Japan in the 1600s. FX’s drama series required Jarvis to transform two exterior backlots and two soundstages, building everything from a fishing village to a harbor to royal palaces.
Speaking with Variety, Jarvis says, “At the time, Osaka was a significantly large city. It’s a very convoluted coastline. If you look at a contemporary view, it’s mostly built up with concrete with many inlets and there wasn’t one huge harbor.”
The old mill was a cedar factory with a man-made inlet; it became the perfect setting to build the port and fishing harbor.
- 6/12/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.
The State of the Race
The biggest update in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series races happens to be what has been excluded. One can assume the critical and commercial hit FX series “Shōgun” moving to the Drama categories frees up two nomination slots in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series Emmy category in particular now that actors Hiroyuki Sanada...
The State of the Race
The biggest update in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series races happens to be what has been excluded. One can assume the critical and commercial hit FX series “Shōgun” moving to the Drama categories frees up two nomination slots in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series Emmy category in particular now that actors Hiroyuki Sanada...
- 6/10/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Hard-pressed as one would be these days to think of a situation in which a bungling dictator turns a nation inside out, HBO’s savage satirical comedy “The Regime” takes this idea to the mat.
Kate Winslet assumes the role of an ill-spoken, environmentally paranoid but impeccably appointed chancellor who runs an unnamed nation in a compound-like palace with the help of a rough-and-tumble soldier (Matthias Schoenaerts) whom she tasks with everything from odd jobs to sexual gratification.
Production designer Kave Quinn used massive interiors to create a seemingly never-ending labyrinth of rooms and catacombs. “The project involved a lot of research and the observation of the ridiculousness of, for instance, a picture of Vladimir Putin addressing some of his colleagues, and how far away they have to be,” Quinn said. “I’ve seen interviews with him belittling people, so I think the use of space is quite critical.”
Kate Winslet in “The Regime.
Kate Winslet assumes the role of an ill-spoken, environmentally paranoid but impeccably appointed chancellor who runs an unnamed nation in a compound-like palace with the help of a rough-and-tumble soldier (Matthias Schoenaerts) whom she tasks with everything from odd jobs to sexual gratification.
Production designer Kave Quinn used massive interiors to create a seemingly never-ending labyrinth of rooms and catacombs. “The project involved a lot of research and the observation of the ridiculousness of, for instance, a picture of Vladimir Putin addressing some of his colleagues, and how far away they have to be,” Quinn said. “I’ve seen interviews with him belittling people, so I think the use of space is quite critical.”
Kate Winslet in “The Regime.
- 6/5/2024
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
“Baby Reindeer” was among the winners at the first-ever Gotham TV Awards on Tuesday evening, taking home the prize for breakthrough limited series.
“I never thought in a million years that this dark, weird, messed up show would have brought in this universal love that it’s received,” said Richard Gadd, the show’s creator and star, in his acceptance speech. He also thanked Netflix, his team and his mom and dad for “messing [him] up enough to make [him] an artist.”
Gadd went on to say, “It’s kind of weird also that a show as messed up as this has gone on to strike a chord with so many people. I think it speaks to the fact that a lot of people in the world are struggling right now. And I don’t know much in the way of advice, but I do know that nothing lasts forever. So if you are in a rut,...
“I never thought in a million years that this dark, weird, messed up show would have brought in this universal love that it’s received,” said Richard Gadd, the show’s creator and star, in his acceptance speech. He also thanked Netflix, his team and his mom and dad for “messing [him] up enough to make [him] an artist.”
Gadd went on to say, “It’s kind of weird also that a show as messed up as this has gone on to strike a chord with so many people. I think it speaks to the fact that a lot of people in the world are struggling right now. And I don’t know much in the way of advice, but I do know that nothing lasts forever. So if you are in a rut,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety Film + TV
Editor’s note: Deadline’s It Starts on the Page features standout limited or anthology series scripts in 2024 Emmy contention.
“What they want to hear, Sir, is that we still share a purpose: the Mission Civilization, a faith in the good fight, the American way, et cetera,” double agent the Captain (Hoa Xuande) tells the desperate General (Toan Le) as the fall of Saigon appears imminent in the opening episode of HBO’s The Sympathizer. “A sophomore debate theme for a Fort Leavenworth alum like yourself.”
In many ways, the line from the “Death Wish” script, written by The Sympathizer creators Don McKellar and Park Chan-wook, sums up the complexities and duplicities of the premium cabler’s multi-genre limited series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name.
Starring Robert Downey Jr in several roles personifying America and its disastrous involvement in Southeast Asia, The Sympathizer...
“What they want to hear, Sir, is that we still share a purpose: the Mission Civilization, a faith in the good fight, the American way, et cetera,” double agent the Captain (Hoa Xuande) tells the desperate General (Toan Le) as the fall of Saigon appears imminent in the opening episode of HBO’s The Sympathizer. “A sophomore debate theme for a Fort Leavenworth alum like yourself.”
In many ways, the line from the “Death Wish” script, written by The Sympathizer creators Don McKellar and Park Chan-wook, sums up the complexities and duplicities of the premium cabler’s multi-genre limited series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name.
Starring Robert Downey Jr in several roles personifying America and its disastrous involvement in Southeast Asia, The Sympathizer...
- 6/4/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
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.
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.
- 6/3/2024
- by Smriti Sneh
- FandomWire
Sandra Oh has come to realize that with great power comes great responsibility. Since wrapping up her run as Dr. Cristina Yang on the venerable ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy a decade ago, Oh has looked to champion stories that deconstruct and explore the nuances of Asian American identity.
Her latest TV project, The Sympathizer, which recently wrapped up its run on HBO, makes good on that promise. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and co-created for television by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, the seven-part limited series tells the story of a man known simply as The Captain (Hoa Xuande), a police captain for South Vietnam who has actually been working as an undercover agent for North Vietnam’s Communist regime for years.
After being forced to flee to the United States during the fall of Saigon, The Captain — who, as the son of a...
Her latest TV project, The Sympathizer, which recently wrapped up its run on HBO, makes good on that promise. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and co-created for television by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, the seven-part limited series tells the story of a man known simply as The Captain (Hoa Xuande), a police captain for South Vietnam who has actually been working as an undercover agent for North Vietnam’s Communist regime for years.
After being forced to flee to the United States during the fall of Saigon, The Captain — who, as the son of a...
- 6/3/2024
- by Max Gao
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In HBO/Max’s war drama The Sympathizer, adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel and co-created by renowned director Park Chan-wook, a communist spy from North Vietnam (The Captain, played by Hoa Xuande) accompanies a Southern Vietnamese general (Toan Le) as he prepares to flee for America or risk capture. In this scene from episode one, The General is compiling his list of names to board the getaway plane with him, while The Captain starts crossing out those who’ll stay behind, masterfully depicted onscreen through this transition (one of many impressively complex scene changes in the series) showing the paper and the red pen indicating those fated to remain and face their victors’ wrath.
Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong chose this shot out of the show’s many cinematic frames because, he says, it’s “accumulating movement. It’s not a simple, static shot.” This particular scene was filmed...
Cinematographer Kim Ji-yong chose this shot out of the show’s many cinematic frames because, he says, it’s “accumulating movement. It’s not a simple, static shot.” This particular scene was filmed...
- 6/1/2024
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When Team Downey co-founder Susan Downey and president of production Amanda Burrell were approached with what would become “The Sympathizer,” it presented them and fellow co-founder and star Robert Downey Jr. with what Susan Downey calls “an excellent creative opportunity and challenge.” It also led to a question: “How are we going to pull this off?”
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Viet Thanh Nguyen and developed for television by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar as well as A24, “The Sympathizer” is the kind of big-swing television show Team Downey has become known for getting behind, following projects like the acclaimed HBO series “Perry Mason” and the ongoing Netflix drama “Sweet Tooth” (which returns for its third and final season on June 6). The show focuses on an unnamed protagonist, called simply The Captain (breakout star Hoa Xuande), a North Vietnamese spy who infiltrated the South Vietnamese army...
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Viet Thanh Nguyen and developed for television by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar as well as A24, “The Sympathizer” is the kind of big-swing television show Team Downey has become known for getting behind, following projects like the acclaimed HBO series “Perry Mason” and the ongoing Netflix drama “Sweet Tooth” (which returns for its third and final season on June 6). The show focuses on an unnamed protagonist, called simply The Captain (breakout star Hoa Xuande), a North Vietnamese spy who infiltrated the South Vietnamese army...
- 5/31/2024
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Welcome to Emmy Experts Typing, a weekly column in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen discuss the Emmy race — via Slack, of course. This week, as the eligibility period closes Friday, we discuss two last-minute limited/TV movie hopefuls.
Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! We’re at the end of 2024 Emmys eligibility, and not without some last-minute entries. This week, Netflix added “Eric” to its stable of limited series contenders — joining fellow May release “A Man in Full,” as well as “Ripley,” “Griselda,” “Painkiller” and presumed frontrunner “Baby Reindeer.” Meanwhile, over at HBO, “The Great Lillian Hall” is here, a TV movie that puts Jessica Lange in contention for Best Limited/TV Movie Actress. It’s funny: Neither of these projects feels like they connected with critics and the late drops are always dicey when there are too many shows to watch in the first place.
Christopher Rosen: Hello, Joyce! We’re at the end of 2024 Emmys eligibility, and not without some last-minute entries. This week, Netflix added “Eric” to its stable of limited series contenders — joining fellow May release “A Man in Full,” as well as “Ripley,” “Griselda,” “Painkiller” and presumed frontrunner “Baby Reindeer.” Meanwhile, over at HBO, “The Great Lillian Hall” is here, a TV movie that puts Jessica Lange in contention for Best Limited/TV Movie Actress. It’s funny: Neither of these projects feels like they connected with critics and the late drops are always dicey when there are too many shows to watch in the first place.
- 5/31/2024
- by Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
The finale of The Sympathizer on HBO delivers a surprising twist that shines a light on the thematic importance of dual identities. The series had already intrigued viewers with Robert Downey Jr.’s exceptional portrayal of multiple characters, but it saved its most complex revelation for the end. Complex Characters and Surprising Revelations The show follows a North Vietnamese spy known as the Captain (Hoa Xuande) embedded in a South Vietnamese community in Los Angeles after the war. Duy Nguyen portrays Man, the Captain’s best friend and handler, who becomes central to the final turn of events. The pain makes him...
- 5/31/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
The Captain (Hoa Xuande) is our guide through both Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel and the HBO limited series version of “The Sympathizer,” but he is also a mystery — most especially to himself. A communist spy who is pulled irresistibly towards the height of Western decadence (Los Angeles in the late ’70s) and depravity (a film set in the late ’70s), the goal of the show is to mirror Nguyen’s prose and give the viewer a visceral sense of The Captain’s alienation.
While the flashiest choice “The Sympathizer” makes is Robert Downey Jr. playing all the significant Western figures who attempt to influence The Captain, there are also smaller, subtler tortures within the show’s imagery itself. The cinematography (by “Decision To Leave” maestro Kim Ji-yong and “The Hurt Locker” veteran Barry Ackroyd) continually puts pressure on The Captain through a sense of heat, sickly light, and eyes just beyond the frame.
While the flashiest choice “The Sympathizer” makes is Robert Downey Jr. playing all the significant Western figures who attempt to influence The Captain, there are also smaller, subtler tortures within the show’s imagery itself. The cinematography (by “Decision To Leave” maestro Kim Ji-yong and “The Hurt Locker” veteran Barry Ackroyd) continually puts pressure on The Captain through a sense of heat, sickly light, and eyes just beyond the frame.
- 5/30/2024
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
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...
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...
- 5/28/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
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,...
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,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Jashandeep Singh
- KoiMoi
[Editor’s note: The following interview contains mild spoilers for “The Sympathizer,” Episode 7, “Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?”]
In the end, “The Sympathizer” was not a show that kept things simple. An adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2015 novel, the HBO limited series helmed by filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar concludes in a way that reframes the events of its premiere episodes, and eventually arrives at a thesis that helps ease the protagonist’s internal tug-of-war.
According to star Hoa Xuande, putting an emphasis on the “nothing” in the phrase “Nothing is more important than independence and freedom” makes his character The Captain, a Communist spy embedded in the South Vietnamese army, who begins to lose himself when he’s forced to follow that community in exile in the United States, “realize that he’s been fighting for these things that have been out of his reach, that are just ideals that are unobtainable, and that...
In the end, “The Sympathizer” was not a show that kept things simple. An adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2015 novel, the HBO limited series helmed by filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar concludes in a way that reframes the events of its premiere episodes, and eventually arrives at a thesis that helps ease the protagonist’s internal tug-of-war.
According to star Hoa Xuande, putting an emphasis on the “nothing” in the phrase “Nothing is more important than independence and freedom” makes his character The Captain, a Communist spy embedded in the South Vietnamese army, who begins to lose himself when he’s forced to follow that community in exile in the United States, “realize that he’s been fighting for these things that have been out of his reach, that are just ideals that are unobtainable, and that...
- 5/27/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
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.
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.
- 5/27/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for The Sympathizer finale.] The Sympathizer has been slyly teasing the identity of the Commissar since Episode 1, and the finale at last revealed who he is. It also revealed a surprise fifth Robert Downey Jr. character that makes the entire story come full-circle. For most of the season, viewers have been watching the Captain (Hoa Xuande) tell the story through stylistic flashbacks, using his love of American cinema and music to tell the story like a movie. There were occasional cuts to the present day where the Captain was imprisoned in a Vietnamese reeducation camp and being forced to make edit after edit to his confession “script” until the officers, and the unseen Commissar, were satisfied. If you didn’t figure out the Commissar’s identity through the clues peppered throughout earlier episodes, the finale makes it abundantly clear that the Captain has had a hunch about this person’s identity all season long...
- 5/27/2024
- TV Insider
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...
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...
- 5/27/2024
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Sky Atlantic debuts the limited series The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Premiering on May 27 at 9:00 p.m., the series blends espionage and cross-cultural satire with a top flight cast, including Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. in multiple roles. The Sympathizer takes us into the world of a half-French, […]
Sky Atlantic Premieres Espionage Thriller The Sympathizer on Monday 27 May...
Sky Atlantic Premieres Espionage Thriller The Sympathizer on Monday 27 May...
- 5/25/2024
- by Noah Masire
- MemorableTV
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...
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...
- 5/25/2024
- by Kaitlin Thomas
- Gold Derby
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...
The Americans (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – FX
The Americans is a...
- 5/21/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
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 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...
- 5/20/2024
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
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,...
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,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is the latest auteur making the migration to television. He previously dabbled in serialized narratives by directing all six episodes of the 2018 BBC spy thriller mini-series "The Little Drummer Girl." Adapting a John Le Carré novel, famous for their intricate plots, for his second English-language work? Park's pulled off that and more.
This year, Park co-created "The Sympathizer," a Vietnam War satire starring Robert Downey Jr. and Hoa Xuande. Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 novel (and Pulitzer winner), Park also directed the series' first three episodes. Most recently, it's been confirmed that he's producing a TV remake of his most famous film: 2003 revenge thriller "Oldboy."
Park is one of the most internationally known filmmakers from South Korea. The country has a thriving movie industry. (Check out /Film's picks for the best South Korean film directors here.) Before Park took off as a director,...
This year, Park co-created "The Sympathizer," a Vietnam War satire starring Robert Downey Jr. and Hoa Xuande. Adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 novel (and Pulitzer winner), Park also directed the series' first three episodes. Most recently, it's been confirmed that he's producing a TV remake of his most famous film: 2003 revenge thriller "Oldboy."
Park is one of the most internationally known filmmakers from South Korea. The country has a thriving movie industry. (Check out /Film's picks for the best South Korean film directors here.) Before Park took off as a director,...
- 5/18/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for If, Bridgerton and Hit Man.
If premiere
Writer-director John Krasinski joined stars Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Cailey Fleming, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, Emily Blunt, Bradley Cooper, Awkwafina, Matt Damon, Amy Schumer, Maya Rudolph, Bobby Moynihan and Christopher Meloni at the New York premiere of If on Monday.
Bobby Moynihan, Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw and Alan Kim Bradley Cooper
Bridgerton premiere
Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Lorraine Ashbourne, Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey walked the carpet on Monday at the New York premiere of Bridgerton‘s third season.
Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey
Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion premiere
The Paley Center for Media hosted the world premiere of documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion in Los Angeles on Monday,...
If premiere
Writer-director John Krasinski joined stars Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Cailey Fleming, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, Emily Blunt, Bradley Cooper, Awkwafina, Matt Damon, Amy Schumer, Maya Rudolph, Bobby Moynihan and Christopher Meloni at the New York premiere of If on Monday.
Bobby Moynihan, Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw and Alan Kim Bradley Cooper
Bridgerton premiere
Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Lorraine Ashbourne, Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey walked the carpet on Monday at the New York premiere of Bridgerton‘s third season.
Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey
Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion premiere
The Paley Center for Media hosted the world premiere of documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion in Los Angeles on Monday,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Robert Doweny Jr. has been exposed to many different methods of acting over his lengthy career. From playing envious scientists to egotistical billionaires, he has certainly explored his range as an actor throughout his decades-long career. Despite this, it would seem that his latest work has taught him something that none in the past were able to.
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
The Sympathizer follows a nameless protagonist played by Hoa Xuande named The Captain through seven episodes. In his escape from the Vietnam War to the United States, he encounters an awful lot of American men who look like Tony Stark. It is quite a well-known fact that Downey is playing four different characters in the miniseries. It is safe to say that executing this was not easy.
The Four Faces of Robert Downey Jr.
The Sympathizer sees Robert Downey Jr. in four different skins. At the very beginning,...
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
The Sympathizer follows a nameless protagonist played by Hoa Xuande named The Captain through seven episodes. In his escape from the Vietnam War to the United States, he encounters an awful lot of American men who look like Tony Stark. It is quite a well-known fact that Downey is playing four different characters in the miniseries. It is safe to say that executing this was not easy.
The Four Faces of Robert Downey Jr.
The Sympathizer sees Robert Downey Jr. in four different skins. At the very beginning,...
- 5/14/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
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...
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...
- 5/14/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Within the past week, Jennifer Jason Leigh (“Fargo”) lost and then regained her first place position on our Best TV Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress Emmy odds chart. She is being given a run for her money by small screen newcomer Kali Reis (“True Detective: Night Country”), who maintained general frontrunner status from May 9-12 and is still our experts’ pick to win, as has been the case since May 3.
A week ago, Reis was also our editors’ predicted winner, but they have since gravitated back toward Leigh. Based on the forecasts of 2,400+ Gold Derby users, both women currently have 6/1 odds in their race, with their closest competitor being Aja Naomi King (“Lessons in Chemistry”) at 15/2.
The temporary toppling of Leigh occurred three weeks after “Shōgun” overtook “Fargo” in the Best Limited Series race. Since then, the consensus among our readers has been that the latter show’s best shot...
A week ago, Reis was also our editors’ predicted winner, but they have since gravitated back toward Leigh. Based on the forecasts of 2,400+ Gold Derby users, both women currently have 6/1 odds in their race, with their closest competitor being Aja Naomi King (“Lessons in Chemistry”) at 15/2.
The temporary toppling of Leigh occurred three weeks after “Shōgun” overtook “Fargo” in the Best Limited Series race. Since then, the consensus among our readers has been that the latter show’s best shot...
- 5/14/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
When prosthetic makeup designer Vincent Van Dyke first met with Robert Downey Jr., the two men somewhat immediately hit it off. And good thing, too, since just a couple of days later, Van Dyke heard from the producers of the HBO limited series “The Sympathizer” with the hope of signing him onto the ambitious project.
“Luckily we had that earlier meeting because we had to hit the ground running,” Van Dyke tells Gold Derby in an exclusive video interview. “It was a quick turnaround to start creating and designing these looks, and get them in front of everyone’s eyes.”
SEE2024 Emmy Experts predict Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. (‘The Sympathizer’) out front
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and created for television by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, “The Sympathizer” focuses on an unnamed man called the Captain (breakout star...
“Luckily we had that earlier meeting because we had to hit the ground running,” Van Dyke tells Gold Derby in an exclusive video interview. “It was a quick turnaround to start creating and designing these looks, and get them in front of everyone’s eyes.”
SEE2024 Emmy Experts predict Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. (‘The Sympathizer’) out front
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and created for television by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, “The Sympathizer” focuses on an unnamed man called the Captain (breakout star...
- 5/13/2024
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
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...
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...
- 5/12/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
In 2019, Sandra Oh simultaneously received her seventh and eighth acting Emmy nominations for “Killing Eve” (drama lead) and “Saturday Night Live” (comedy guest). Five years later, her performance bid total is set to reach an even dozen thanks to her respective lead and supporting performances in the telefilm “Quiz Lady” and the limited series “The Sympathizer.” Earning TV academy recognition for these two roles would make her the eighth woman to compete for both possible limited program acting awards at once.
In “Quiz Lady,” which premiered on Hulu last November, Oh plays Jenny Yum, a vivacious yet reckless woman who reunites with her estranged younger sister (Awkwafina) to resolve their mother’s gambling debts. “The Sympathizer,” which began airing on HBO in April, features her in the role of Sofia Mori, a 1970s Japanese American secretary who becomes entangled with a communist spy (Hoa Xuande).
Prior to amassing her four...
In “Quiz Lady,” which premiered on Hulu last November, Oh plays Jenny Yum, a vivacious yet reckless woman who reunites with her estranged younger sister (Awkwafina) to resolve their mother’s gambling debts. “The Sympathizer,” which began airing on HBO in April, features her in the role of Sofia Mori, a 1970s Japanese American secretary who becomes entangled with a communist spy (Hoa Xuande).
Prior to amassing her four...
- 5/10/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Megan Brophy Young, Matt Haberman and Chase Lehner have been promoted to Vice President of Talent at the leading PR firm Narrative.
Lehner will work out of the company’s Los Angeles office, with Brophy Young and Haberman continuing to co-lead the company’s New York City outpost, as Brophy Young splits her time between Texas and New York.
Young has spent more than a decade curating an impressive client roster including prominent actors, athletes, musicians, thought leaders and industry innovators. Beginning her career in-house at AMC Networks, she developed a passion for talent representation and transitioned to personal publicity in 2012. In 2017, Brophy took her expertise to Nashville where she immersed herself in the country music industry, working at Big Machine Label Group before landing at Narrative in 2018, closely after its inception. To date, she’s been the driving force for campaigns for the likes of Lily Allen, Lucy Boynton,...
Lehner will work out of the company’s Los Angeles office, with Brophy Young and Haberman continuing to co-lead the company’s New York City outpost, as Brophy Young splits her time between Texas and New York.
Young has spent more than a decade curating an impressive client roster including prominent actors, athletes, musicians, thought leaders and industry innovators. Beginning her career in-house at AMC Networks, she developed a passion for talent representation and transitioned to personal publicity in 2012. In 2017, Brophy took her expertise to Nashville where she immersed herself in the country music industry, working at Big Machine Label Group before landing at Narrative in 2018, closely after its inception. To date, she’s been the driving force for campaigns for the likes of Lily Allen, Lucy Boynton,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for The Sympathizer Season 1 Episode 4, “Give Us Some Good Lines.”] The Sympathizer Episode 4 is one of the best episodes of 2024 so far. The episode breaks form from its previous installments and plants the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a double agent pretending to be loyal to the Southern Vietnamese cause and its CIA allies, on the set of an American-made Vietnam War movie directed by Nikos Damianos (the fourth of Robert Downey Jr.‘s characters). The Captain was hired as the cultural consultant for The Hamlet, a noteworthy section of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. As the man in charge of representing the Vietnamese community, the Captain was in a unique position to both witness the racist depiction of Vietnamese people in this film and do something about it. What resulted in the making of this Apocalypse Now-style movie was a meta commentary that criticizes how Hollywood portrayed the Vietnam War...
- 5/6/2024
- TV Insider
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.
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.
- 5/6/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
[This story contains spoilers for episode four of The Sympathizer, “Give Us Some Good Lines.”]
You hear about James Yoon before you meet him. The fourth episode of The Sympathizer, HBO and A24’s limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel, is an interlude from the usual business of spycraft as The Captain (Hoa Xuande) is dispatched by his CIA contact (Robert Downey Jr.) to serve as a cultural consultant for a Vietnam War movie from a hotheaded auteur (also played by Downey). While telling Lana (Vy Le) about the film, The Captain says that James Yoon is in the cast. Lana doesn’t recognize the name, but The Captain says she’ll know him when she sees him: He’s the guy that Hollywood turns to whenever there’s an Asian role.
That’s why it almost feels like an Easter egg when James Yoon appears a few scenes later, played by John Cho...
You hear about James Yoon before you meet him. The fourth episode of The Sympathizer, HBO and A24’s limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel, is an interlude from the usual business of spycraft as The Captain (Hoa Xuande) is dispatched by his CIA contact (Robert Downey Jr.) to serve as a cultural consultant for a Vietnam War movie from a hotheaded auteur (also played by Downey). While telling Lana (Vy Le) about the film, The Captain says that James Yoon is in the cast. Lana doesn’t recognize the name, but The Captain says she’ll know him when she sees him: He’s the guy that Hollywood turns to whenever there’s an Asian role.
That’s why it almost feels like an Easter egg when James Yoon appears a few scenes later, played by John Cho...
- 5/6/2024
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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...
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...
- 5/6/2024
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Streaming on: Sky / Now
Episodes viewed: 7 of 7
At regular opportunities, The Sympathizer likes to remind you not to blindly trust what you’re told. At the tail end of the Vietnam War, its narrator (Hoa Xuande), known only as The Captain, is being held in a North Vietnamese re-education camp, where he’s forced into confessing his story. As he recounts his years as a Communist spy, first infiltrating the South Vietnamese special police, then operating as a mole in America after the fall of Saigon, all while reporting back to the very people now holding him captive, The Captain repeatedly states that this is his version of events. Time rewinds as he rethinks his account, adding new details. We watch scenes that he admits he never witnessed. In war, there is no truth, only points of view.
The Sympathizer is a big, fiercely intelligent, often very funny, sometimes difficult drama.
Episodes viewed: 7 of 7
At regular opportunities, The Sympathizer likes to remind you not to blindly trust what you’re told. At the tail end of the Vietnam War, its narrator (Hoa Xuande), known only as The Captain, is being held in a North Vietnamese re-education camp, where he’s forced into confessing his story. As he recounts his years as a Communist spy, first infiltrating the South Vietnamese special police, then operating as a mole in America after the fall of Saigon, all while reporting back to the very people now holding him captive, The Captain repeatedly states that this is his version of events. Time rewinds as he rethinks his account, adding new details. We watch scenes that he admits he never witnessed. In war, there is no truth, only points of view.
The Sympathizer is a big, fiercely intelligent, often very funny, sometimes difficult drama.
- 5/2/2024
- by Olly Richards
- Empire - TV
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...
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...
- 4/30/2024
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for The Sympathizer Season 1 Episode 3, “Love It or Leave It.”] All four Robert Downey Jr. characters came out to play in the same scene The Sympathizer Episode 3, and director Park Chan-wook tells TV Insider it was a masterclass in acting to film it. Viewers met the first two Downey characters, Claude and Professor Hammer, in The Sympathizer Episodes 1 and 2. Claude works for the CIA and has been training the Captain (Hoa Xuande) as his “protege” (he still hasn’t figured out that the Captain is a double agent with loyalty to the Northern Vietnamese cause). Hammer was the Captain’s professor during his brief stint in America. It’s through Hammer that the Captain meets his new lover, Sofia (Sandra Oh). Downey’s third character was revealed earlier in Episode 3, “Love It or Leave It.” The politician Ned Godwin is nicknamed “Napalm Ned” and is sympathetic to the Southern Vietnamese war efforts.
- 4/29/2024
- TV Insider
Getting ready to make your 2024 Emmy predictions for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor? Be sure to scroll through our photo gallery showcasing the men who are most likely to land in the lineup. Out in front is “Fargo” star and former drama lead winner Jon Hamm, who could also pick up dual supporting bids this year for the comedy and drama series “Good Omens” and “The Morning Show.”
Hamm would be the first actor to win this award for “Fargo,” following the unsuccessful bids of inaugural season cast members Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton and third season lead Ewan McGregor. As the star of “A Gentleman in Moscow,” McGregor happens to be seeking a second win in this category after being honored for “Halston” in 2021.
Others vying for bookend trophies here are Michael Douglas (“Franklin”; formerly of “Behind the Candelabra”) and Benedict Cumberbatch (“Eric”; “Sherlock”). Also in the mix is Tony Shalhoub,...
Hamm would be the first actor to win this award for “Fargo,” following the unsuccessful bids of inaugural season cast members Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton and third season lead Ewan McGregor. As the star of “A Gentleman in Moscow,” McGregor happens to be seeking a second win in this category after being honored for “Halston” in 2021.
Others vying for bookend trophies here are Michael Douglas (“Franklin”; formerly of “Behind the Candelabra”) and Benedict Cumberbatch (“Eric”; “Sherlock”). Also in the mix is Tony Shalhoub,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Park Chan-wook doesn’t actually know how Robert Downey Jr. responded to his characters in “The Sympathizer.”
The acclaimed Korean director worked with Downey for the first time while adapting Viet Thanh Nguyen’s bestselling novel for HBO, and he expected a big-name star at that level to drag out the negotiation process after getting an offer. To Park’s surprise, Downey circled back quickly, and the two of them started to dig into his character — his characters.
Downey, who also executive produced the series along with wife Susan, plays four characters (so far) in the limited series, each with a unique look and voice and motivations — all of which were built in process. There’s C.I.A. agent Claude, the Orientalist Professor Hammer, filmmaker Niko, and Congressman Ned Godwin, and Downey appears to thoroughly enjoy embodying every single one. In his review of the series, IndieWire’s Ben Travers...
The acclaimed Korean director worked with Downey for the first time while adapting Viet Thanh Nguyen’s bestselling novel for HBO, and he expected a big-name star at that level to drag out the negotiation process after getting an offer. To Park’s surprise, Downey circled back quickly, and the two of them started to dig into his character — his characters.
Downey, who also executive produced the series along with wife Susan, plays four characters (so far) in the limited series, each with a unique look and voice and motivations — all of which were built in process. There’s C.I.A. agent Claude, the Orientalist Professor Hammer, filmmaker Niko, and Congressman Ned Godwin, and Downey appears to thoroughly enjoy embodying every single one. In his review of the series, IndieWire’s Ben Travers...
- 4/29/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Robert Downey Jr. eyes the Primetime Emmy next after his Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer. Downey Jr. plays not one but four roles in the new HBO series, The Sympathizer. While the Dolittle actor surprised fans with his different looks in the trailer of the series, fans were not ready for one scene in the third episode. In this scene, Downey Jr. brought out all four characters in a single sequence, and Sandra Oh hijacked an interview to hear all about it.
Robert Downey Jr. in a still from The Sympathizer
The Iron Man actor’s four characters represent different aspects of the American establishment. These characters include CIA agent Claude, Professor Hammer, auteur filmmaker Niko, and Southern California congressman Ned Godwin.
Robert Downey Jr.’s One Scene In The Sympathizer Was Challenging To Shoot
Robert Downey Jr. and Hoa Xuande in the steakhouse scene in The Sympathizer...
Robert Downey Jr. in a still from The Sympathizer
The Iron Man actor’s four characters represent different aspects of the American establishment. These characters include CIA agent Claude, Professor Hammer, auteur filmmaker Niko, and Southern California congressman Ned Godwin.
Robert Downey Jr.’s One Scene In The Sympathizer Was Challenging To Shoot
Robert Downey Jr. and Hoa Xuande in the steakhouse scene in The Sympathizer...
- 4/29/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
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...
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...
- 4/29/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
When “The Sympathizer” showrunner and director Park Chan-Wook brainstormed ideas for HBO’s newest miniseries, one scene struck him as a “quintessential American institution and represented the idea of America.” It took place in a steakhouse with several characters coming together.
Based on the best-selling novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and set at the end of the Vietnam War, “The Sympathizer” follows a captain, played by Hoa Xuande, in the South Vietnamese army who’s secretly spying for the North Vietnamese communists. As Saigon falls and the U.S. retreats, the Captain remains embedded and escapes to Los Angeles. Throughout, Robert Downey Jr. pops up as various characters who interact with the Captain including Claude, the Captain’s CIA contact, as well as a professor, a congressman and an auteur.
Park toyed with the idea of casting Mark Ruffalo and even Josh Brolin along the way, but in the end,...
Based on the best-selling novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen and set at the end of the Vietnam War, “The Sympathizer” follows a captain, played by Hoa Xuande, in the South Vietnamese army who’s secretly spying for the North Vietnamese communists. As Saigon falls and the U.S. retreats, the Captain remains embedded and escapes to Los Angeles. Throughout, Robert Downey Jr. pops up as various characters who interact with the Captain including Claude, the Captain’s CIA contact, as well as a professor, a congressman and an auteur.
Park toyed with the idea of casting Mark Ruffalo and even Josh Brolin along the way, but in the end,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
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
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...
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...
- 4/28/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Gold House, the nonprofit organization that connects and celebrates Asian Pacific creatives, companies and communities, will hold its third annual Gold Gala on May 11, toasting a star-studded group of honorees.
Cynthia Erivo, Padma Lakshmi, Lucy Liu, Saweetie, The Sympathizer star Hoa Xuande and the creator and cast of Beef will all be recognized at the event, alongside Hybe founder and chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, Hello Kitty, producer-director Karan Johar, content creator Valkyrae, the Maui first responders and Team USA’s Olympic skating team.
Presenters will also bring the star power, with a lineup including Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (aka Daniels), Regina King, Lulu Wang, John Cho, Auliʻi Cravalho, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Gordon Cormier, Dallas Liu and Elizabeth Yu, and Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria.
The Gold Gala serves as an annual gathering of top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders, convening more than 600 guests to celebrate the 2024 A...
Cynthia Erivo, Padma Lakshmi, Lucy Liu, Saweetie, The Sympathizer star Hoa Xuande and the creator and cast of Beef will all be recognized at the event, alongside Hybe founder and chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, Hello Kitty, producer-director Karan Johar, content creator Valkyrae, the Maui first responders and Team USA’s Olympic skating team.
Presenters will also bring the star power, with a lineup including Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (aka Daniels), Regina King, Lulu Wang, John Cho, Auliʻi Cravalho, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Gordon Cormier, Dallas Liu and Elizabeth Yu, and Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria.
The Gold Gala serves as an annual gathering of top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders, convening more than 600 guests to celebrate the 2024 A...
- 4/25/2024
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lucy Liu and Padma Lakshmi are among the stars who will be honored at the third annual Gold House Gala in May.
This year marks the third annual Gold Gala where top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders will convene to celebrate the 2024 A100 List.
Gold House will announce the A100 honorees on May. 1. The list highlights the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific changemakers in culture and society over the past year.
This year’s theme, A Gold New World, imagines a tomorrow for all, built by all. Luxury brand fashion designer Prabal Gurung will help bring this vision to life as the first-ever Gold Gala Creative Director.
Speaking with Variety, Gurang said, “When we talk about Asian representation, we talk about all Asians. People are flying in from India, Taiwan, Shanghai and all over. It’s about people from their respective fields coming together to inspire.” He added, “Gold House and...
This year marks the third annual Gold Gala where top Asian Pacific and multicultural leaders will convene to celebrate the 2024 A100 List.
Gold House will announce the A100 honorees on May. 1. The list highlights the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific changemakers in culture and society over the past year.
This year’s theme, A Gold New World, imagines a tomorrow for all, built by all. Luxury brand fashion designer Prabal Gurung will help bring this vision to life as the first-ever Gold Gala Creative Director.
Speaking with Variety, Gurang said, “When we talk about Asian representation, we talk about all Asians. People are flying in from India, Taiwan, Shanghai and all over. It’s about people from their respective fields coming together to inspire.” He added, “Gold House and...
- 4/25/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
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...
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...
- 4/24/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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...
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...
- 4/24/2024
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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.