HBO recently purchased the award-winning novel, The sympathizer to be adapted as a limited series with esteemed director, Park Chan-wook at the helm. The South Korean director already has a stellar list of films under his belt having directed films like Old boy, The thirst, The servant, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, lady revengeand his last, Decision to leave. With The sympathizer Already in pre-production, the director talks about the film and how it will look, including the lead role, Robert Downey Jr.
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The sympathizer at work in HBO with Park Chan-wook
The sympathizer tells the story of a prisoner of war who, in the last days of the Vietnam War, reveals his duality as a half-French and half-Vietnamese communist spy. The story becomes more confrontational due to the power dynamics that are at play throughout the spy’s faith-based storytelling. The anonymous narrator is a child of two worlds, growing up in a society doomed to othering him, and although he is half Vietnamese and half French by blood, he is not accepted by either of them but serves his life as soldier working for both the Viet Cong and South Vietnam.
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The novel, published in 2015, served as the first work written by Vietnamese-American professor and author, Viet Thanh Nguyen. The sympathizer won the Edgar Prize and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016. The adaptation currently being financed by HBO will star Robert Downey Jr. in his first television role in which he is expected to co-star alongside a predominantly Vietnamese film . cast. Speaking of the A24 drama series, Robert Downey Jr. claimed,
“Adapting the important and masterful work of Mr. Nguyen requires a visionary team. With director Park at the helm, I expect this to be a creative production adventure for Susan, me and the Downey team and a challenging process for myself in playing these complex supporting roles. A24 and HBO are the perfect combination of partners and co-parents. […] It’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve been craving, and I think we’ll provide an exceptional viewing experience for our audience.
Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey will serve as executive producers on the miniseries.
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Director Park Chan-wook discusses partnership with RDJ
At the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, South Korean director and screenwriter Park Chan-wook, who is also co-showrunner of The sympathizer talks about what attracted its star of the series, Robert Downey Jr., to the project.
“Well, all great actors are very picky, and I think the reason he chose this project is because he read the novel, and he liked the thoughts behind this novel and how this novel compares the western and eastern values. And he has a great interest in telling the story of refugees and this novel tackles the Vietnamese refugees who came to the United States after the war. So I think that’s one of the reasons why he said yes to this project.
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With filming on the series due to begin in November, director Park Chan-wook will also be joined by Don McKellar who will also helm the HBO production. Park and McKellar also serve as executive producers on the show alongside Team Downey’s RDJ, Susan Downey and Amanda Burrell. The series is currently slated for release in 2023.
Source: Collider
