Taiwanese cheer as ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ restores Taiwan flag after alleged removal for Chinese censors

Arden Cho addresses her rejection of ‘Teen Wolf’ revival role because of co-star pay disparities

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🏆 The Headlines

Taiwanese cheer as ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ restores Taiwan flag after alleged removal for Chinese censors — “Top Gun: Maverick” has restored the Taiwanese and Japanese flags seen in the original film that were replaced with fabricated designs in earlier trailers for the hit sequel.

• Taiwanese and Japanese flags, emblazoned on the bomber jacket worn by Tom Cruise’s character Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the original 1986 film, were seen replaced with original designs using similar color palettes in the 2019 previews for its sequel. 

• Seen as a representation of Taiwan’s independence, the Taiwanese flag is considered an affront to China, who lays claim over the territory. Earlier reports suggested its removal may have been an attempt to appeal to Chinese censors, notorious for banning any Hollywood films that suggest any themes that misalign with their politics.  

• Even without the controversial flags, the film would have faced several obstacles for screening in the country, as the Chinese government only allows theaters to air 34 foreign films each year. 

• A Taiwanese outlet reported that local moviegoers cheered at the sight of their flag and continued to applaud throughout the film.

Arden Cho addresses her rejection of ‘Teen Wolf’ revival role because of co-star pay disparities — Arden Cho has finally addressed her sudden exit from “Teen Wolf” and the rumor that she declined to appear in the movie adaptation because of pay disparities.

• Speaking with The Cut, Cho, 36, admitted she was “in shock” and could not believe the news when she heard her character was abruptly dropped from “Teen Wolf” during its hiatus between Season 5 and Season 6 in 2016.

• “Sometimes in a show where there are so many characters, there isn’t always room for everyone and everyone’s storylines, so I guess that was it,” Cho said in a “Teen Wolf” farewell video for her fans.

• Cho joined the cast of “Teen Wolf” as Kira Yukimura, a Japanese Korean teenager with supernatural powers as a Thunder Kitsune, in Season 3. Her powers, which came from her Japanese mother, who is also a Kitsune but of Celestial affinity, became a critical point in the plot of Season 3.

• “What I loved about Kira was that she was so much like me,” Cho said. “She had this heart to want to save her friends and fight for good, but she was super dorky and really awkward and she just didn’t know what to do with herself.”

See below for more entertainment headlines, casting calls, and entertainment-related job opportunities from Nickelodeon, Disney and more ⬇️