Robert Downey Jr. to co-star, exec produce in ‘The Sympathizer’ series adaptation
Robert Downey Jr. will play multiple roles in the series adaptation of the espionage thriller The Sympathizer.
The Sympathizer is the Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel of Viet Thanh Nguyen which begins in 1975, during the final days of the Vietnam War. The black comedy and historical novel tells the struggles of a nameless Eurasian (half-French, half-Vietnamese) spy exiled in the United States but reports to a general in Vietnam.
Nguyen confirmed the report of Deadline in a tweet on Monday where he revealed Downey will be playing all the white man roles.
Here we go! THE SYMPATHIZER goes to @HBO, with director Park Chan-wook & Robert Downey Jr. playing (get this) all the white man roles.
— Viet Thanh Nguyen (@viet_t_nguyen) July 15, 2021
We are now looking for the sympathizer himself. Might it be you?
Excited to be working with @A24 and @rhombusmedia!https://t.co/ZrVjALg4zU
The film will be directed by Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy) who is also a co-showrunner alongside Don McKellar,
Production for the upcoming adaptation appears to be in its early stages as Nguyen said the team is still looking for an actor to play the lead role of the sympathizer himself.
“Adapting Mr. Nguyen’s important and masterful work requires a visionary team,” said Downey, who will be executive producing the series alongside Park, McKellar, Susan Downey and Amanda Burrell for Team Downey, Niv Fichman for Rhombus Media, and Kim Ly.
“It’s exactly the type of challenge I’ve been craving, and I believe we will deliver an exceptional viewing experience to our audience,” Downey added.
Nguyen first announced the television adaptation last April where he said that Oldboy, helmed by Park, was a big influence on The Sympathizer.
Thrilled to finally announce that @A24 has optioned THE SYMPATHIZER for TV, with director Park Chan-wook, whose films include THE HANDMAIDEN. His OLDBOY was a big influence on THE SYMPATHIZER, and I can't imagine a better person to direct this TV adaptation with @rhombusmedia!
— Viet Thanh Nguyen (@viet_t_nguyen) April 7, 2021
The Sympathizer series will be released on HBO.
(Images from Robert Downey Jr./Instagram and Viet Thanh Nguyen/website)