George Takei, the actor who played helmsman Sulu in the original Star Trek TV series, has expressed scepticism about the decision to make Sulu openly gay in the new movie Star Trek Beyond.
The move, announced by new Sulu actor John Cho on Thursday, was intended by writer Simon Pegg as a doff of the cap to Takei’s pioneering work for gay rights.
“Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s creation, into which he put so much thought.
“I’m delighted that there’s a gay character,” said Takei.