'Wasn't shocking to me': Manny Jacinto takes dig at Tom Cruise over role reduction in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Manny Jacinto has voiced his disappointment over the reduction of his role in 'Top Gun: Maverick', revealing his frustration with the film’s focus and industry dynamics, as reported by New York Post.

In an interview with GQ published on Wednesday, the actor expressed his feelings about the cuts to his character's screen time.

Manny Jacinto speaks out about limited screen time and calls for greater representation

“It’s flattering that there was a little bit of an outcry, but it wasn’t shocking to me,” Jacinto told GQ. Despite months of intensive training and preparation, his character, LT Billy “Fritz” Avalone, had minimal presence in the final cut.

“It kind of fuels you, because at the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise,” Jacinto remarked.

Jacinto, who is Filipino-Canadian and married to 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' actress Dianne Doan, reflected on the experience, noting that the film’s focus shifted significantly away from his character.

He observed, “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.”

The film, which became a massive hit with a $1.5 billion box office, did not elevate Jacinto’s career in the same way it did for co-stars Glen Powell and Miles Teller. Jacinto, best known for his role as Jason in 'The Good Place', also highlighted the broader issue of representation in Hollywood.

He pointed out that successful actors of color, such as Steven Yeun and Kumail Nanjiani, often need to create their own opportunities to maintain visibility and progress in the industry.

“Maybe it’s my lack of faith in this industry, but the people of color who find success, I feel like they still have to work at it and continue to fight for roles,” Jacinto said.

He praised actors like Dev Patel for their efforts in creating their own projects, citing Patel’s film 'Monkey Man' as an example of taking control of one’s career.

“Or even look at Dev Patel! He’s a huge star, but he had to make ‘Monkey Man’ himself (to get an action role like that), and that was even shelved at one point. That’s crazy to me. So that’s why I have this caution toward whether or not the industry will move things forward for my career. If anything, it fuels me to try and create things on my own terms and hopefully lead projects that way.”

In January, it was reported that a third installment of Top Gun is in development, with Cruise, Powell, and Teller set to return.

Manny Jacinto slams ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ for removing lines, Internet responds

Manny Jacinto’s recent comments about his diminished role in 'Top Gun: Maverick' have sparked a flurry of reactions online. The actor, who played LT Billy “Fritz” Avalone in the film, expressed his disappointment in an interview with GQ, stating that his lines were cut and his character had minimal screen time. This revelation has led to a heated debate among fans and followers on social media.

One user defended the film’s creative choices, saying, “Maybe Tom Cruise is focused on great stories and a great finished product as the primary motivation for everything he does. I’m sure it’s disappointing for this actor, but not everything is about me me me me me all the time. And anyone who is in business knows that sometimes less is more when you’re presenting or pitching to other people. Streamlining out all of the extraneous nonnecessary stuff really drives the message and drives the point."

"I hope this actor is motivated to continue to grow, and maybe getting the free publicity and press for complaining about Tom Cruise will help him land a bigger role next time somewhere else. But to me, he just seems kind of selfish," said another.

One comment read, “It's like he doesn't know he wasn't a main character on that movie.”

Another user drew a comparison with a past Hollywood situation, stating, “Wah, wah wah. Kevin Costner had all of his speaking parts cut from The Big Chill. Turns out he played a corpse. I don't remember him crying about it or race baiting. This guy was cut because his character didn't matter to the story. Comparing yourself to actual stars is funny.”

There were also warnings about potential repercussions for Jacinto’s career. “Good luck finding a job in Hollywood after dissing a legend like Tom Cruise. Obviously there was a reason they were cut,” a user cautioned.

Another added, “Well when only one actor is present on the poster of a film, you must suspect that all the other actors are only extras.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.