‘The Sympathizer’ trailer straps in with Robert Downey Jr. in four separate roles [Watch]

Oscar frontrunner Robert Downey Jr. stars alongside newcomer Hoa Xuande as well as Emmy nominee Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong – and then also Downey, Downey, and Downey again – in the new series “The Sympathizer.” The limited event from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook (“Oldboy”) and Don McKellar debuts on HBO beginning April 14.

About the Downey of it all: The “Oppenheimer” star, who is widely expected to win his first Oscar for the film during the Academy Awards on March 10, plays four roles in “The Sympathizer,” with each distinct character representing a form of American imperialism.

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“I was astounded by how quickly he was able to come up with a very different performance—he’d do a different improv for each and every take,” Park told Vanity Fair in an interview published Thursday to coincide with the new trailer for “The Sympathizer” (watch it below). “Even when I had a good-enough take, I had to fall back and suppress myself from asking for more. It was unbelievable to see.”

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, “The Sympathizer” is described by HBO as 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.”

“It’s angry and satiric and very intelligent and also not afraid to tackle big themes—but it’s also very playful in a way that’s sort of surprising for the heavy subject matter,” McKellar told Vanity Fair of the book. “Our main strategy was to replicate that voice cinematically by bringing in Park Chan-wook, because he really shares that sensibility. His work has that edge. He can do satire, he can be devastating, but he also has this playfulness and this wit.”

Park and McKellar serve as co-showrunners and writers, with Park directing the first three episodes. The rest of the season is split between directors Fernando Meirelles (episode 4) and Marc Munden (episodes 5-7). Other writers include Mark Richard, Naomi Iizuka, Maegan Houang, Anchuli Felicia King, and Tea Ho.

Downey and his wife and producing partner Susan Downey are executive producers along with A24.

Watch the trailer below. “The Sympathizer” is one of several major limited series set to premiere over the next couple of months, including HBO’s fellow Emmy contender “The Regime” with Kate Winslet.

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