US Banned Top Gun Release... China Presents 'Chinese Top Gun' Patriotic Film

A scene from the upcoming Chinese movie "Sky King." Photo by Global Times capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] China, which banned the domestic release of the globally successful Hollywood film starring Tom Cruise, "Top Gun: Maverick," is set to release a promotional film about its own air force.

According to the Chinese state-run Global Times on the 15th, director Liu Xiaosi's "King of the Sky (長空之王·born to fly)", featuring cutting-edge fighter jets such as stealth aircraft, will be released within this year.

The advanced fighter jets include the J-20 stealth fighter and the main combat aircraft J-16 and J-10C. The film depicts the process of Chinese scientists and engineers developing stealth fighters amid Western containment, as well as the trials and tribulations of test flight pilots, earning it the nickname "Chinese Top Gun."

The Global Times stated, "The film will not only showcase the power and speed of China's latest fighter jets but also portray the daily lives and work of test flight pilots representing the People's Liberation Army Air Force of the era."

The lead roles are played by actors Zhou Dongyu, known in Korea for the film "Better Days," Wang Yibo, and Hu Jun.

Previously, films about China's participation in the Korean War, such as "The Battle at Lake Changjin" and its sequel, achieved consecutive box office successes. This has led to interpretations that the release of "King of the Sky" aims to continue fostering patriotism through the end of the year.

"Top Gun: Maverick," which has been a box office hit worldwide including in Korea, has yet to be released in mainland China.

Meanwhile, "Top Gun: Maverick" has grossed approximately $1.2 billion (about 1.57 trillion KRW) to date, and in Korea, it surpassed 7 million cumulative viewers as of the 31st of last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.