Park Chan-wook, Don McKellar WGA Expulsion – The Sympathizer
Oldboy and Glenn Gould Writers Expelled From WGA For Breaking Strike Rules
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Park Chan-wook, the acclaimed director and writer behind the visceral masterpiece Oldboy, and Mark McKellar, known for his work on Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn gould, have both been expelled from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) for violating strike rules. The infraction? Writing on the 2024 Robert Downey Jr. project, The Sympathizer, during the union-mandated work stoppage.
Consequences of WGA Expulsion
This isn’t a symbolic reprimand. The WGA’s collective bargaining agreement dictates that studios – essentially all the major players in Hollywood, including Disney, Netflix, and HBO, the home of The Sympathizer – must employ WGA screenwriters. This expulsion effectively bars Park and McKellar from working on American film and television productions. They’re not alone, however.The WGA has revealed that seven writers were disciplined for similar conduct during the strikes. While some, like Sullivan’s Crossing creator Roma Roth, unsuccessfully appealed their cases (making their names public in the process), the WGA opted to publicize the full list this weekend. Another name added to the list is Anthony Cipriano, a co-creator of Bates Motel, who received a suspension until May 2026 for his work on the 2024 thriller The Last Breath.
The Sympathizer and the Controversy
the Sympathizer had a brief but notable run in the spotlight last april, largely fueled by the buzz surrounding Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of multiple antagonists in the life of a Vietnamese refugee (Hoa Xuande) who is secretly a communist double agent. The series, adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, saw Park and mckellar credited – frequently enough alongside a third writer – on all seven episodes.
The show’s quick ascent and descent from public conversation now carries a new layer of context. It highlights the tough choices some creators faced during the WGA strike, and the serious repercussions for those who crossed the picket line.
For those following the industry, this situation raises questions about the future of projects that relied on writers who have now been sanctioned. It also underscores the WGA’s commitment to enforcing its rules and protecting the rights of its members.
What This Means for the Future
The WGA strike, which concluded in late 2023, was a pivotal moment for writers in Hollywood. The issues at stake – fair compensation, residuals in the streaming era, and protections against the use of artificial intelligence – are reshaping the landscape of the entertainment industry.
These expulsions serve as a stark reminder that adhering to union rules is paramount, and that the consequences for violating those rules can be severe. As the industry continues to evolve, we’ll likely see further scrutiny of how projects were developed and produced during and in the immediate aftermath of the strike.