Lanie
When it was revealed earlier this week that the makers of the latest “Star Trek” movie had decided to make the character of Sulu (played by John Cho) a homosexual, most might have expected George Takei to be doing cartwheels. Takei, who played Sulu in the original series and feature films, would come as a gay years after his “Star Trek” break. Seemingly as a tribute and nod to Takei, “Star Trek Beyond” writer Simon Pegg and director Justin Lin decided they’d add a scene into the film that reveals that Cho’s version of Sulu is gay. So just how pleased is Takei with the addition to his beloved character? Not much, it would seem.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the 79-year-old says he was respectfully approached last year by both Pegg and Lin for his thoughts on having Sulu pictured in a same-sex relationship in the next movie. Takei explained that he didn’t think it was a good idea, if only because it messed with “Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry’s original vision, and expected that the film might then have scrapped the idea.
“I’m delighted that there’s a gay character,” the actor, who came out in 2005, tells the trade. “Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Gene’s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate.”
According to Takei, Roddenbery always envisioned Sulu to be a hetero-sexual.
“I told [Pegg], ‘Be imaginative and create a character who has a history of being gay, rather than Sulu, who had been straight all this time, suddenly being revealed as being closeted.'”
“I said, ‘This movie is going to be coming out on the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, the 50th anniversary of paying tribute to Gene Roddenberry, the man whose vision it was carried us through half a century. Honor him and create a new character. I urged them. He left me feeling that that was going to happen,” Takei says.
According to Takei, it was largely Pegg who ignored his request and did it anyway.
“Star Trek Beyond” premiered in Australia this week – complete with scene which reveals Sulu (Cho) and his partner are raising a child together.
