Manny Jacinto (left) and Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick” poster | Image: Instagram/@mannyjacinto, @tomcruise
Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto aired his disappointment after his lines were cut in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick,” saying Tom Cruise was only “writing for himself,” and adding it’s up to Asian-American actors to find projects that will cater to them.
“At the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise. It’s up to us, Asian Americans and 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,” he told GQ Magazine in a recent interview.
Despite his axed dialogue and brief screen time, Jacinto, who is of Filipino-Chinese descent, remained grateful to have the chance to work for a bigger and more famous franchise such as “Top Gun.”
“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,” he said.
“The Acolyte” actor affirmed that the experience fueled him to take matters into his own hands as he aspires to move forward with his career.
“If anything, it fuels me to try and create things on my own terms and hopefully lead projects that way,” he said, adding that he’s “laying the groundwork for that” by working with Filipino writers and producers for upcoming projects.
“I would love to do an incredible A24 or Neon indie. I’d love to be part of a new franchise, whether it’s a comic, a manga, or an anime, like ‘Naruto’ or ‘One Punch Man.’ There’s still so much I need to do,” continued the actor.
Jacinto is currently earning raves for his role as Qimir aka Sith Lord in the Star Wars series “The Acolyte.” He’s also known for his portrayal as Jason Mendoza on the fantasy-comedy series “The Good Place” and for voicing Maliksi in the English-language voice cast of Netflix’s “Trese,” among others.
His future projects include “Freaky Friday 2,” “The Knife,” and “Balestra.”