NEW YORK (AP) — USS Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu is portrayed as gay in “Star Trek Beyond,” but George Takei, who originated the role, isn’t pleased.
A scene in the upcoming film plainly presents Sulu, played by John Cho, with a male spouse raising an infant daughter. Cho told Australia’s Herald Sun that he liked that the approach doesn’t “make a big thing” out of it.
But Takei, who came out in 2005, called the decision “unfortunate.” The 79-year-old actor told The Hollywood Reporter that he didn’t like the character being altered. Takei instead urged the filmmakers to create a new gay character.
Screenplay writer Simon Pegg and director Justin Lin say they intended to pay homage to Takei as an LGBT activist. In a statement Friday, Pegg said he “respectfully (disagreed)” with Takei.
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