George Takei calls gay ‘Star Trek’ character ‘unfortunate’

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Joe Tacopino and Post Wires


http://i.imgur.com/z6VkBx9l.jpg

“Star Trek” actor George Takei says it’s “unfortunate” that the “Sulu” character he made famous will be gay in the latest installment of the sci-fi movie franchise.

Takei, 79, who announced he was gay in 2005, made the comment in response to a revelation by the actor playing Capt. Hikaru Sulu in the film “Star Trek Beyond,” which opens July 22.

John Cho told Australia’s Herald Sun that in the new film, Sulu is married to a man and is a father of a daughter with his partner.

The decision to make an original “Trek” character gay comes as Hollywood faces growing pressure for diversity in films. There is yet to be an openly gay *superhero or action-star leading character in a film.

However, Takei, who since coming out has been vocal about LGBT issues, told The Hollywood Reporter that late “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry would not have liked making Sulu gay.

“It’s a twisting of Gene’s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate,” Takei said.

[DemonGeminiX]

At least he knows how to respect a creators creation.

[Muddy]

Right on, Uncle George..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Edward VKanty - Inquisitr


http://i.imgur.com/ycnlWum.jpg

Star Trek has always been about promoting diversity and accepting people for who they are, so, when Simon Pegg revealed that Hikaru Sulu would come out as gay in Star Trek Beyond, it seemed like a choice in line with what creator Gene Roddenberry had always planned for Star Trek. The move was motivated by a desire to pay tribute to George Takei, who came out in 2005 as gay and who portrayed Sulu in the original Star Trek series and feature films, as much as it was a move to introduce the franchise’s first openly gay character, but Takei wasn’t impressed.

George Takei Isn’t On Board With The New Direction For Hikaru Sulu In Star Trek Beyond

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:37.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAA pWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY 9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wO HiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GP T6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90G Sy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAA AElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHSJJB3j7wb/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I&#39;m visiting a preview of the Intrepid Museum&#39;s Starfleet Academy experience exhibition, celebrating Star Trek&#39;s 50th anniversary. The exhibition opens July 9th #StarTrekNYC</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by George Takei (@georgehtakei) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-30T15:22:13+00:00">Jun 30, 2016 at 8:22am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
George Takei reveals two very important reasons for his opposition to a gay Sulu in Star Trek Beyond, reports The Hollywood Reporter. First, and more importantly to Takei and to loyal Star Trek traditionalists, making Hikaru Sulu a gay character was not something the Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, was open to in the first place. The original series was in its third season and had tackled numerous controversial issues, so Roddenberry was against stirring up anymore hard social issues that might risk the future of the series, even though he was respectful and supportive of the 60s gay movement, says Takei.

“I’m delighted that there’s a gay character,” the original Hikaru Sulu says. “Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Gene’s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate.”

Additionally, making Sulu gay in a Star Trek timeline that predates the events of the original Star Trek series implies that Sulu has been openly gay and married with a child, only to later find himself in a position where his sexuality was a source of embarrassment. Takei says this doesn’t make sense, especially for the more enlightened 23rd century in which Star Trek takes place. Instead, George had hoped to convince the Star Trek Beyond production team to introduce a new gay character and leave the Sulu character alone.

“I told him, ‘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.'”

Star Trek Beyond Kept Their Gay Sulu In Spite Of George Takei’s Protests

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAA pWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY 9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wO HiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GP T6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90G Sy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAA AElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGDj6sZK34V/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Sulu, hitting warp speed July 22. #StarTrekMovie</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Star Trek Beyond (@startrekmovie) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-05-31T02:56:11+00:00">May 30, 2016 at 7:56pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
Rolling Stone reports that Simon Pegg and Zachary Quinto, who is an openly gay actor, have since responded to George Takei’s criticism of the decision to make Sulu gay in Star Trek Beyond. Simon Pegg was the first to take Takei’s words to heart, probably because, in addition to playing Star Trek Beyond‘s Scotty, he also co-wrote the story for the film and had direct involvement in the decision to make Sulu a gay character. In reacting to George’s comments, Simon says he thinks Gene Roddenberry would have been supportive of the idea to create a gay story arc for Sulu.

“I have huge love and respect for George Takei, his heart, courage and humor are an inspiration,” Pegg responded. “However, with regards to his thoughts on our Sulu, I must respectfully disagree with him.”

Of course, the old standby excuse created by J.J. Abrams with the first rebooted film in the franchise is that this story arc, like the previous films, exists in an alternate timeline.

“Our Trek is an alternate timeline with alternate details,” the Star Trek Beyond co-writer added. “Whatever magic ingredient determines our sexuality was different for Sulu in our timeline. I like this idea because it suggests that in a hypothetical multiverse, across an infinite matrix of alternate realities, we are all LGBT somewhere. Whatever dimension we inhabit, we all just want to be loved by those we love (and I love George Takei).”

Like George, Zachary Quinto is an openly gay actor and takes pride in his involvement with the LGBT community, so it’s understandable that Quinto was hurt by Takei’s disapproval. Even in his dealings with the late Leonard Nimoy, Zachary has always seemed the most eager for approval and acceptance by the original Star Trek cast, so the emotion of his reaction can be felt in his words.

“As a member of the LGBT community myself, I was disappointed by the fact that George was disappointed,” says Star Trek Beyond‘s Quinto. “I think any member of the LGBT community that takes issue with the normalized and positive portrayal of members of our community in Hollywood and in mainstream blockbuster cinema.”

Star Trek Beyond will warp into theaters on July 22.

[FBD]

fuckin abrams....I dont care what franchises I participate in, I am a pompous bastard and can make any change I feel like changing and just dismiss the entire history and create a whole new parallel universe of the bullshit.

people should boycott his movies on that alone, he fucked the transformers all to hell too.

[DemonGeminiX]

:-s

JJ Abrams had nothing to do with the Transformers.

[FBD]

sweet :woot: musta been the other star trek I was thinking of. my stomach is really fully right now :lol:

[Godfather]

Going against the grain on this one, but Star Trek was always about examining social issues and boundaries. I'm not convinced Roddenberry wouldn't have done it if he were remaking Star Trek today. I could be wrong, but just based on some of the boundaries he pushed in TOS in the last 1960's, I just wonder.

[Griffin]

Gay Trekkies have been waiting decades to probe Uranus George.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Going against the grain on this one, but Star Trek was always about examining social issues and boundaries. I'm not convinced Roddenberry wouldn't have done it if he were remaking Star Trek today. I could be wrong, but just based on some of the boundaries he pushed in TOS in the last 1960's, I just wonder.

:ghey:

[RBP]

What do Star Trek and toilet paper have in common?

They both travel around Uranus in search of Klingons.

[Muddy]

fuckin abrams....I dont care what franchises I participate in, I am a pompous bastard and can make any change I feel like changing and just dismiss the entire history and create a whole new parallel universe of the bullshit.

people should boycott his movies on that alone, he fucked the transformers all to hell too.


:-s

JJ Abrams had nothing to do with the Transformers.

:rofl:

[Hal-9000]

Going against the grain on this one, but Star Trek was always about examining social issues and boundaries. I'm not convinced Roddenberry wouldn't have done it if he were remaking Star Trek today. I could be wrong, but just based on some of the boundaries he pushed in TOS in the last 1960's, I just wonder.

this....

I have a book on the Making of Star Trek : the original series and in it the author talks about Roddenberry's vision. No money, no disease, no bigotry, no social class prejudice, no unemployment...were all parts of the world he was creating. In fact there's a popular episode featuring Frank Gorshim (Batman's original TV Riddler) who was an alien with a face that was half black/half white. He had a battle with other aliens from the same world with half black and half white faces, except the colors were reversed on their faces :lol:

Point being, tolerance was professed strongly in his wrting and it's not a stretch to imagine sexual preference would not be a thing in the 25th century.

[Muddy]

this....

I have a book on the Making of Star Trek : the original series and in it the author talks about Roddenberry's vision. No money, no disease, no bigotry, no social class prejudice, no unemployment...were all parts of the world he was creating. In fact there's a popular episode featuring Frank Gorshim (Batman's original TV Riddler) who was an alien with a face that was half black/half white. He had a battle with other aliens from the same world with half black and half white faces, except the colors were reversed on their faces :lol:

Point being, tolerance was professed strongly in his wrting and it's not a stretch to imagine sexual preference would not be a thing in the 25th century.

I think George was saying though.. You can add a gay character, but why Sulu? Why pull his personal life into the character..?

[Hal-9000]

I think George was saying though.. You can add a gay character, but why Sulu? Why pull his personal life into the character..?

Yeah you're right, he's saying - Why change 'this' guy? Is it by chance because I'm gay in real life?

And that's a little too on the nose for him. Pretty cool view considering who is making the observation :thumbsup:

I don't go onto Facebook anymore but I'm a member of Takei's group/page :lol: