Tom Cruise Changed ‘Top Gun 2’ to Appease China’s Communist Government
When Top Gun: Maverick hits theaters next summer, there will be plenty of throwbacks and reminders from the first film. However, one change to the new movie has been made, and you can thank China for it.
When Tom Cruise surprised San Diego Comic Con attendees this weekend by premiering the first poster and trailer to the film, eagle-eyed fans noticed something different.
As you can see in the photo below, Maverick’s iconic jacket has changed its patch from the 1986 version. The jacket, as seen in the new trailer and poster is identical to the 1986 version, except for the large central patch. The original paid tribute to the USS Galveston’s “Far East Cruise” in 1963 and 1964, in which the ship patrolled Japan, Taiwan, and Okinawa. This was a real-life cruise, not one made up for the movie, so the patch was likely a real one members of the Navy had made.
However, the new jacket features a patch that appears to reference the events in the first film, a cruise in the Indian Ocean in 1985 and 1986.
Here’s a comparison photo, using an image from the new poster.
Mark MacKinnon, a reporter with The Globe and Mail, discovered that the change was likely made to appease Chinese censors, who do not recognize Taiwan’s independence and have had strained relations with Japan.
China is the world’s largest market for movies, but all films must be approved by the Communist government. Any reference to Taiwan is prohibited, among anything else that does not reflect positively on the government. And so, the classic patch on Cruise’s jacket had to go.
After some more digging, MacKinnon discovered just how closely China is tied to the film.
Tencent Pictures, a Chinese movie production company, is one of the producers of Top Gun: Maverick. That means they likely dictate what sort of content makes it into the film.
Tencent’s influence can be seen in the movies it produces. Kong: Skull Island, Wonder Woman, Venom, Bumblebee, and the upcoming Terminator: Dark Fate are all produced by Tencent.
The Power of Chinese Money
It is rare for a Hollywood blockbuster to be produced and financed solely by American companies. Most movies are produced, at least in part, by either a Chinese or Middle Eastern production company, because they need their millions to meet budget. Hollywood films will censor their content to ensure China accepts it, so they don’t lose out on millions in revenue.
The power of China on Hollywood can be seen in the recent remake of Red Dawn. In the original 1984 film, Russians invaded America and started World War III. In the 2012 version, the invading country was changed to China. However, after the Chinese government rejected the film, millions were spent to change the invading army to North Korea.
Neither Tom Cruise nor the producers of Top Gun: Maverick have commented on the controversy.
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H/T: ScreenRant
