The Sympathizer teaser: Robert Downey Jr plays multiple roles in HBO miniseries

Last Updated on April 28, 2023

Among the many HBO announcements earlier today was the first official teaser trailer for The Sympathizer, an original limited series which features Robert Downey Jr. in what appears to be multiple roles. You can check out The Sympathizer teaser above!

The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The series 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 resulting exile in the United States. Hoa Xuande leads the series, with Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh also starring. As you can see in The Sympathizer teaser trailer, Robert Downey Jr. pops up in multiple roles, but could they all be the same character in disguise?

The series hails from Park Chan-wook, best known for the Vengeance Trilogy consisting of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance. He serves as co-showrunner and co-writer of The Sympathizer alongside Don McKellar, and also serves as executive producer and director of the first three episodes. Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, and Amanda Burrell executive produce through their Team Downey banner. Other executive producers include Kim Ly andNiv Fichman for Rhombus Media, Ron Schmidt and Jisun Back for Moho Film, and author Viet Thanh Nguyen. Fernando Meirelles and Marc Munden directed the remaining episodes of the miniseries.

Robert Downey Jr. has several projects on his slate, including a possible remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Downey is set to produce the remake and is said to be considering starring in the leading role of the former police detective forced to retire after an incident in the line of duty causes him to develop acrophobia and vertigo. Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is on board to pen the script for Paramount Pictures.

The Sympathizer doesn’t have an official release date yet, with the teaser only saying that it will arrive in 2024.