Sandra Oh joins Robert Downey Jr.’s adaptation of ‘The Sympathizer’

November 11, 2022

HBO and A24 announced three new additions to the cast of the Robert Downey Jr.-produced adaptation of “The Sympathizer,” including “Killing Eve” star Sandra Oh.

Joining Oh in the series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name is Kieu Chinh of “Dynasty” and Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen of “Paris by Night,” according to Deadline.

“The Sympathizer” follows the story of a half-French and half-Vietnamese communist spy’s struggles during the end of the Vietnam War and his subsequent exile to the United States.

Nguyen’s novel is described as a “sweeping epic of love and betrayal” and a “blistering exploration of identity and America, a gripping spy novel and a powerful story of love and friendship.”

Oh, who recently narrated the PBS documentary “Rise Against Asian Hate,” will play Ms. Sofia Mori, a feminist who discovers the complexities of her Asian American identity while being entangled in a love triangle.

Chinh will play Major’s mother, who has been feeling homesick for Vietnam and finds it hard to fit in, unlike her son, who jumped in feet first. Lastly, Nguyen will play Madame, the General’s elegant and matriarch wife, who is desperate to keep her daughter modest and her husband from unwinding as they restart their lives as refugees.

Joining them is Downey Jr., who will take on several roles as the main antagonists of the series. The Marvel actor reportedly shaved his head to prepare for his new role.

Other main cast members of “The Sympathizer” who have been introduced include Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le and Alan Trong.

A release date for the series has yet to be announced. However, “The Sympathizer” is currently in production and is being filmed in Los Angeles and Thailand.

In May, Oh wrapped up the fourth and final season of the spy thriller TV series “Killing Eve.” In an interview, she revealed that she pitched a very different ending for the show. She is set to appear alongside Awkwafina in a Hulu original comedy in 2023.

Featured Image via JoBlo Streaming & TV Trailers

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