George Takei ‘dissapointed’ that Sulu is gay in Star Trek Beyond
Yesterday we were coming to you with the exciting news that Star Trek character Hikaru Sulu is gay in the upcoming film Star Trek Beyond.
This morning however, we’ve woken up to some unexpected comments.
A somehow unanticipated reaction came from the very man who played the original Sulu, George Takei, who allegedly was the ‘source of inspiration’behind Sulu’s sexuality, has just declared to the Hollywood Reporter that he find it “unfortunate”.
He said, “Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Gene’s [Star Trek’s creator] creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate.”
Indeed, Takei thinks a ‘last-minute’ change of sexual-orientation would discredit Sulu’s character.
“I told [the writers], ‘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.'”
What should have been perceived as a kind gesture from the writers to assure Takei’s legacy seemed to have definitely fallen through when he concluded:
“I really tried to work with these people when at long last the issue of gay equality was going to be addressed,” Takei says.
“Months later, when I got [an] email from Simon Pegg [Star Trek Beyond writer], I was kind of confused. He thinks I’m a great guy? Wonderful. But what was the point of that letter? I interpreted that as my words having been heard.”
As long as Sulu lives long and prosper…
Star Trek Beyond is set for a release on July 22.
Words: Salomé Baudino
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