From Library Shelf to Lead Role: Hoa Xuande’s Journey as The Captain in “The Sympathizer” (HBO Series Adapted from Pulitzer Prize-Winning Book)

You know how it goes – you borrow a book from the library, get engrossed in its initial chapters, but then life takes over forcing an untimely return of the novel unfinished. This exact scenario befell Hoa Xuande when he lent Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Sympathizer”. However, years later, fate intervened and gifted him with an unprecedented role as the protagonist in HBO’s TV adaptation of this novel. Notably, acclaimed director Park Chan-wook helms this series (HBO and CNN are both part of Warner Bros. Discovery). After submitting his audition tape for consideration, Xuande couldn’t help but acquire the book and devour it entirely from cover to cover. Set in the 1970s as Vietnam War draws its final breath, Xuande portrays The Captain – an unnamed double agent working within the American-backed South Vietnamese army on behalf of the Viet Cong forces. Paralleling this series with the book’s narrative structure, it frequently switches between timelines following The Captain’s mission that leads him to America after Saigon falls. For Xuande, who was born in Sydney, Australia, embodying The Captain signified more than just assuming a significant role – It helped enhance his attachment to her heritage. He upgraded himself by refining the Vietnamese language and delved into Vietnam’s culture beyond what is commonly portrayed in films or mainstream media due to a lack of acquaintance with other people who share this background during childhood years. “All my friends were Australian,” he explained, adding that his connection to his heritage wasn’t apparent until later stages of life. Xuande stars alongside an ensemble cast consisting mainly of Vietnamese actors like Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le and Kieu Chinh who play roles critical to the series’ narrative development. Phanxine plays a South Vietnam Major while Chinh portrays his mother – a refugee forced to evacuate at 15 during the war due to her birth occurring amidst it. “It’s my life,” said Kieu, 86 years old and famous for “The Joy Luck Club,” recalling everything from escape camps, new lives in unfamiliar surroundings following Vietnam War’s end, refugee centres that paved her relocation way beyond Southeast Asia – It was all there. Sandra Oh also features as Ms Sofia Mori – a second-generation Japanese-American with an affinity towards The Captain’s romantic involvements in this gripping adaptation series about Vietnamese War and the societal realigning that followed its conclusion. According to Oh, representative casting is crucial for progress within the entertainment industry – “It’s not just who we decide to support but how we do it,” she asserted, emphasizing the challenges first-time SAG members in this predominantly Vietnamese cast encountered while getting adjusted on set and knowing what exactly they ought to request or adhere to. The role of The Captain was an exceedingly tricky one for casting director Jennifer Venditti’s team due to its complexity, necessitating a lengthy eight-month audition process that required Xuande to shuttle back-forth from his Sydney homestead base up towards LA in the United States and then Seoul, South Korea, where he met with Park Chan-wook for discussion sessions. Casting director Venditti commended Hoa’s charisma – a feature reminiscent of classic Hollywood stars like Ryan O’Neal or Steve McQueen, albeit in Vietnamese guise. Xuande was acutely aware that he would be working on an exceedingly intricate and challenging production during auditions with Chan-wook as the director’s body language frequently conveyed what precisely was required of him – “we’ve developed our very own unique style over time which doesn’t entail elaborate verbal instructions,” Xuande said. With a possibility that another season might be forthcoming (given Viet Thanh Nguyen authored “The Committed,” an acclaimed sequel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning book), Xuande may have more library visits in his future! “The Sympathizer” is currently streaming on HBO.