HBO has released a trailer for The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. IndieWire reported that the seven-episode limited series, co-showrun by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, "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 cast also includes Robert Downey Jr., Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong. The Sympathizer premieres April 14 on HBO.
The series is a co-production between A24 and HBO, along with Rhombus Media, and is produced in association with Moho Film and Cinetic Media. Park writes and directs the first three episodes, with Fernando Meirelles and Marc Munden also helming installments. Mark Richard, Naomi Iizuka, Maegan Houang, Anchuli Felicia King, and Tea Ho are writing the series.
Downey executive produces with Susan Downey and Amanda Burrell for Team Downey. Niv Fichman executive produces for Rhombus Media, Jisun Back executive produces for Moho Film, and Kim Ly, Ron Schmidt, and author Nguyen are also executive producers.