Star Trek actors stand behind gay Sulu revelation

Simon Pegg (second left) receives a kiss from Chris Pine at Star Trek Beyond's UK premiere

The stars of the latest Star Trek film have stood behind its revelation that long-standing character Sulu is gay.

"It is definitely high time for an LGBT character to be included in the Star Trek universe," Zachary Quinto, who plays Mr Spock, said. "I'm a little stunned there's been so much attention given to it," Chris Pine, the current Captain Kirk, added.

George Takei (left) and John Cho share the role of Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise

George Takei - Sulu in the original Star Trek TV series - described the move last week as "really unfortunate".

Chris Pine (right) said he felt "lucky and blessed" to have shared scenes with Anton Yelchin (left)

"I'm delighted that there's a gay character [in the film]," the 79-year-old told the Hollywood Reporter.
Yet he claimed the "outing" of Hikaru Sulu was "a twisting" of Gene [Roddenberry]'s creation, "to which he put in so much thought".


Takei said Star Trek creator Roddenberry "was a strong supporter of LGBT equality" but had always envisioned Sulu as heterosexual. The actor - who went on to play Sulu in the six Star Trek films made between 1979 and 1991 - announced he was gay in 2005.
Speaking on Tuesday before Star Trek Beyond's UK premiere, Simon Pegg said the revelation about Sulu's sexuality "doesn't change George's Sulu in any way". "Whatever he wants that to be, that is how that Sulu is," said the British actor, a cast member and co-writer on the new film.

"But in this universe, it felt like a smart way of introducing an aspect of the character we hadn't previously known."

Partner and daughter

In Star Trek Beyond, Enterprise helmsman Sulu is briefly seen being greeted at the end of a voyage by his male partner and daughter. Sulu's partner, whose name is Ben according to the IMDB website, is played in the film by Doug Jung, the film's other co-writer.

John Cho, who has played Sulu since the film series was rebooted in 2009, said he had initially been concerned about Takei's reaction. "I was worried because I knew [George] was a gay man who had played a straight character,"

"I know he felt a fair bit of ownership of that character, and legitimately so. I was also worried that it might be inferred that we were somehow suggesting that sexuality was a choice. But I don't think anyone has inferred that, and we're certainly not saying that."