The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has expelled South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook and Canadian actor-writer Don McKellar for working on their HBO miniseries The Sympathizer during the 2023 writers’ strike. The seven-part adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 novel starred Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. and aired in 2024. According to the guild, neither Park nor McKellar appealed against their expulsion.
In the same announcement, the WGA revealed that Anthony Cipriano has been suspended until May 1, 2026 for work on The Last Breath, formerly titled Untitled True Story Haunting — Thriller Project. He has also received a public censure and a lifetime ban from serving as a strike captain.
Profiles of the expelled members
Park, 61, is best known for acclaimed films such as Oldboy (2003) and The Handmaiden (2016). His next feature, No Other Choice, a Korean production co-written with McKellar, Lee Kyoung-mi and Lee Ja-hye, will compete at the Venice Film Festival later this month. McKellar is recognised for his work on Last Night (1998), which he wrote, directed and starred in.
This is the latest in a series of disciplinary actions by the guild for alleged strike breaches in 2023. Seven writers have been penalised in total, with four names made public earlier when they appealed. Roma Roth and Edward Drake had their expulsions upheld in May, while writer Julie Bush received a suspension. A censure against Tim Doyle was overturned after he was accused of inappropriate conduct on a private Facebook group.
The WGA did not disclose further details of the violations by Park, McKellar or Cipriano. In a memo to members, guild leaders thanked volunteers from the Strike Rules Compliance Committee for investigating numerous allegations and determining which cases warranted further board action.
They also acknowledged the trial committees who heard evidence and advised on disciplinary measures, describing their work as a «delicate but necessary task» to ensure members honour their commitments under the guild’s rules and constitution.
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