I just hope they are not try to bite more than one can chew like 2017 film. The film should put all attention to air unit instead this time
And please be more realistic, collide between 2 jets in the air is not the same as car crash.
Never mind that this is China's actual 5th generation fighter (J-20) as the main jet fighter protagonist instead of the F-18/ EA-18 Hornet/Growler types was only a 4th generation fighter on the Top Gun Maverick film. Even the F-35 doesn't get any Hollywood love.
F-35 actually appear in many films but as punching bag... can't remember the last time I saw it survive any encounter in hollywood film.
Anyway, while the reasons in movie not to deployed F-35C is absurb, the actual reason make sense though. They want to filming on real fighter jet to capture real reaction during high G maneuver and F/A-18 is the only fighter in USN service that have 2 seats variants.