Known for his standout role in The Good Place, when Manny Jacinto was offered a role in Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick in 2018, his fans went into a frenzy, as his commitment to stagecraft was finally showing its results. Thereafter, through intense physical and professional preparation, Jacinto made himself ready for the world of fighter jets and high-octane action.
However, despite Manny Jacinto’s months of rigorous flight training, the actor’s journey was not without its disappointments. After Top Gun: Maverick was released, Jacinto discovered that his lines were shortened, which led to an outcry among his fans. People even started blaming Tom Cruise for this disparity. Meanwhile, Jacinto delved into the truths about the film industry and offered a solution for this alleged prejudice.
Manny Jacinto’s Journey Through Top Gun: Maverick Marked by Challenges
When Manny Jacinto received the role of LT Billy “Fritz” Avalone, in Tom Cruise’s 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick, his path to the film was paved with intense workouts and transformation. To embody the role of a fighter pilot and bring out the essence of their lives, Jacinto not only underwent months of rigorous flight training but also endured grueling physical changes.
While the physical preparation for the film led him to two-a-day gym sessions to sculpt an iconic physique, Manny Jacinto informed GQ about immersing himself in the lifestyle of a fighter pilot, after meeting a few of them while filming. Interacting with real members of the Navy and the Air Force, many of whom were Filipino, offered Jacinto a sense of inclusivity.
It’s an incredible feeling because even throughout shooting, we were able to meet a good amount of people in the Navy, people in the Air Force, and a good amount of them are Filipino. And to be able to represent that for them and have their face kind of represented, meant a lot.
However, despite Manny Jacinto’s intense preparation and his getting a sense of diversity while appearing alongside Tom Cruise and Glen Powell, the actor’s triumph was short-lived. Despite delivering his best performance, upon the release of Top Gun: Maverick, Jacinto discovered that his role had been significantly reduced. His contribution was shortened into mere seconds of screen time, and all of his dialogues had been left on the cutting room floor.
Thereafter, the news of Manny Jacinto’s reduced role sparked a wave of confusion and disappointment among fans. Social media buzzed with outcry and frustration, directed both at the film’s creators and at Tom Cruise himself. However, despite fans’ vocal disappointment, Jacinto’s response was marked by grace and insight, as he refused to blame anyone for the injustice.
The Actor Offered a Solution to Alleged Disparity, Instead of Blaming Tom Cruise
During his interview with GQ, Manny Jacinto thus addressed the situation with a perspective shaped by his experiences. Rather than casting blame on Tom Cruise or the filmmaker, Jacinto offered a constructive viewpoint. Reflecting on his Top Gun: Maverick experience, the actor revealed a deeper truth about the entertainment industry and the role of minorities within it.
Explaining that whatever happened to him while appearing in Tom Cruise‘s Top Gun: Maverick, came as a shocking but eye-opening experience, Manny Jacinto later called for the minorities to take action against the disparity in Hollywood, rather than simply blaming others. Stating that his story is not just a personal setback but a significant challenge faced by many in Hollywood, Jacinto called his aspiring colleagues to take action.
It’s flattering that there was a little bit of an outcry, but it wasn’t shocking to me. There was this sense of where the film was going [on set], like I can see them focusing the camera more on these [other] guys and not taking so much time on our scenes. Fortunately, it still was a great experience—you get to see this huge machine at work, see how Tom Cruise works, and you get to be a small part of this huge franchise.
It kind of fuels you, because at the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise. It’s up to us—Asian Americans, people of color—to be that [for ourselves]. We can’t wait for somebody else to do it. If we want bigger stories out there, we have to make them for ourselves.
While the reduction of his role might have been disheartening, Manny Jacinto admitted that it lit a fire in him, a desire to pave his own way to the recognition that he deserves. Well, Jacinto didn’t just reflect on his experience but also highlighted how most minorities in Hollywood face this challenging experience on a daily basis. But despite his disappointment over his diminished role, Jacinto refused to blame Tom Cruise or others, for his situation.
Top Gun: Maverick is available on Paramount+.
