‘The Sympathizer’: HBO Reveals Debut Date, Trailer For Limited Series

The HBO Original limited series The Sympathizer has a premiere date.

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer debuts Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. The seven-episode series 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., who plays multiple roles.  

The Sympathizer is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren’t over. 

Park Chan-wook is the co-showrunner, executive producer, writer, and director (episodes 1-3). Don McKellar is co-showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Other EPs are A24; Downey Jr.; Susan Downey; Amanda Burrell for Team Downey; Niv Fichman for Rhombus Media; Kim Ly; Ron Schmidt; Nguyen; and Jisun Back for Moho Film.

Directors are Fernando Meirelles (episode 4) and Marc Munden (episodes 5-7). Writers are Mark Richard, Naomi Iizuka, Maegan Houang, Anchuli Felicia King and Tea Ho.

The Sympathizer is a co-production between HBO, A24, and Rhombus Media, produced in association with Moho Film and Cinetic Media.