The Sympathizer
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 resulting exile in the United States. Starring Robert Downey Jr.Everything you need to know about upcoming TV show, The Sympathizer, starring Robert Downey Jr
This year is an exciting one for TV adaptations, as upcoming espionage thriller The Sympathizer is set to land on Sky. Based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, the series sees Robert Downey Jr star playing multiple roles.
The official synopsis reads:
“Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, 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 resulting exile in the United States.”
What is the release date?
All seven episodes are available to watch now on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
Is The Sympathizer a true story?
No, The Sympathizer is not a true story. It is based on a fictional book by Vietnamese-American professor Viet Thanh Nguyen that became a best-seller before winning the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Who is in the cast?
This limited series welcomes Robert Downey Jr. as an executive producer and cast member, with Downey Jr. playing multiple roles. Additional cast include:
- Hoa Xuande
- Fred Nguyen Khan
- Toan Le
- Alan Trong
- Vy Le
- Ky Duyen
- Sandra Oh
Can I still watch The Sympathizer on Sky?
The Sympathizer can still be watched on Sky.
Sky Atlantic will continue to air upcoming seasons of much-loved HBO shows that have previously aired on Sky, such as House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and The White Lotus, alongside homegrown Sky Originals and exclusive Peacock Originals straight from the US.
From 26 March, Sky customers with Sky Ultimate TV and Sky Q customers with eligible packages will also get HBO Max Basic with Ads included as standard. That gives you the full library of classic HBO series including Game of Thrones, The Sopranos and Sex in the City, complete collections of beloved series like Friends, and brand new HBO Max Original titles like the Emmy Award-winning The Pitt. Sky+ customers will also be able to watch HBO Max Basic with Ads content through their home page.
Plus, from March 2026, you also get Netflix, Disney+ and (from July 2026) Hayu – all under one easy to manage subscription.
For more information on everything Sky has to offer – click here!
And what about NOW subscribers?
NOW Entertainment & HBO Max customers get HBO Max Basic with Ads included in their membership, bringing even more must-see series from HBO Max alongside Sky Originals and exclusive US shows. To check which NOW membership you have, simply visit ‘My account’ online or in your NOW app.