If you haven’t heard, the PC police were in full force when the script for Star Trek Beyond was written.
Simon Pegg and director Justin Lin (and Paramount) decided to make Sulu homosexual, played by John Cho, which is said to be a “homage” to George Takei.
The only problem is that George Takei isn’t happy about it.
Takei, who came out as being gay in 2005, tells THR it’s “unfortunate” as it goes against original creator Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the character (Yes, Sulu is straight in the TV series).
“I’m delighted that there’s a gay character,” Takei told The Hollywood Reporter. “Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Gene’s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate.”
The article also notes Takei “wasn’t overjoyed,” and that he “never asked for Sulu to be gay.” It’s actually said that George Takei prefers Sulu to stay straight, and that he told John Cho and the creators of Star Trek Beyond to create a new character instead, but they didn’t listen.
“I told [Jon Cho] ‘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,” Takei said.
Takei notes when he spoke about Justin Lin about it, he thought Lin was going to create a new gay character, but again, we obviously see they didn’t.
“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 said.
It’s further noted that both Cho and Pegg sent Takei e-mails about the subject, with Cho being worried about promoting the movie. Takei says he still didn’t change his mind.
“I really tried to work with these people when at long last the issue of gay equality was going to be addressed,” Takei said. “I thought after that conversation with Justin that was going to happen. Months later, when I got that email from Simon Pegg, 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.”
“Star Trek Beyond” has a July 22, 2016 release date.
