Manny Jacinto says his Top Gun: Maverick scenes were cut; calls for Asian American representation

"Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise. It's up to us people of color, to be that [for ourselves]."

One of the standout talents from The Acolyte also appeared in Top Gun: Maverick, and you probably didn't realize it.

Yes, indeed, Manny Jacinto from The Acolyte, known for his role as The Stranger/Qimir, the Sith Lord orchestrating chaos from the outset, also appears briefly in the Tom Cruise-led sequel. 

Despite not having any lines, he can be spotted in the background of several training scenes. This wasn't quite what many expected when Jacinto joined the cast, and while he wasn't entirely surprised by the outcome, he expressed gratitude to fans who wished to see more of him in the film, as he mentioned to GQ.

"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... it was still a great experience — you get to see this huge machine at work, see how Tom Cruise works."

It's comforting to know that Jacinto holds no resentment toward anyone for his limited screen time. Instead, he embraced the experience and approached it with professionalism.

Still, it remains disappointing for fans who anticipated seeing him in a substantial supporting role in one of 2022's major films, only to find him relegated to more of a background role. While he isn't resentful about the situation, he is determined not to let it happen again.

Despite his limited screen time in Top Gun: Maverick, Jacinto remains committed to advocating for greater representation of Asian Americans in major blockbuster films. In fact, his experience with the legacy sequel has only strengthened his resolve, as he explained to GQ:

"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."

This reflects a tough reality in the entertainment industry, which has made strides in the past 15-20 years but still faces challenges in representation. 

Alongside his role in a Star Wars project, Jacinto is also slated to appear in Freaky Friday 2 with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. 

Jacinto portrays the Sith Lord Qimir in The Acolyte, the Star Wars series available on Disney+. Additionally, you can catch his brief appearance in Top Gun: Maverick, now streaming on Paramount+.