So, picture this: Manny Jacinto, the 36-year-old heartthrob who’s now gracing our screens in the Star Wars series *Acolyte*, was supposed to have a meaty role in *Top Gun: Maverick*. But alas, the editing gods had other plans, and all his lines went poof! Like a magician’s assistant, he vanished into the background of a few scenes, leaving fans scratching their heads and wondering if they’d just seen a handsome mirage.
Manny played LT Billy “Fritz” Avalone, a name that promises action, drama, and perhaps a little romance. Instead, he was relegated to the cinematic equivalent of Where’s Waldo, where the real challenge was spotting him at all.
Speaking to GQ, Manny revealed, “It’s flattering that there was a little bit of an outcry, but it wasn’t shocking to me.” Translation: “Yeah, I knew I was getting the boot when the camera seemed allergic to my face.” He added, “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.” So basically, he saw the writing on the wall—except the writing was in invisible ink, and the wall was behind Tom Cruise.
Despite being demoted to background scenery, Manny still had a blast. “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.” Translation: “Hey, at least I got to witness Tom Cruise defy aging and gravity up close!”
But don’t think for a second that Manny’s just sitting in the background, twiddling his thumbs. No sir! This setback has only stoked the fires of his ambition. “It kind of fuels you, because at the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise,” he shared. “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.” In other words, Manny’s ready to grab Hollywood by the lapels and demand more screen time, preferably with a script in hand this time.
And here’s the kicker: Manny’s already moved on to the next big thing! He’s joined the cast of the upcoming *Freaky Friday* sequel, currently filming in Los Angeles. Details on his role are still under wraps, but let’s hope this time, he gets more than a cameo and maybe even a few lines. Stay tuned, because Manny Jacinto is far from done dazzling us!
