George Takei ‘eager’ to see Star Trek: Discovery’s gay character

George Takei is ‘eager’ to see Star Trek: Discovery’s gay character when the show airs next year.

Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek series, previously voiced disappointment after finding out his character would come out in 2016’s Star Trek Beyond.

However the star later clarified that he thought it would have been better if new characters were introduced as gay, rather than characters that were previously straight.

And it looks like the Star Trek writers have listened.

1408274913george-takei

Bryan Fuller’s upcoming series, Star Trek: Discovery, is set to feature the television show’s first gay character as well as minority and female characters.

According to Gay Star News, Takei, speaking at the Unforgettable Gala, revealed that he couldn’t wait to see Rent actor Anthony Rapp as Lieutenant Stamets.

“When I was informed they were making Sulu gay, I said, ‘It’s wonderful that they can deal with the gay issue. But honour Gene. It’s not about me. It’s about Gene’s vision and respect him and respect the characters that he created,” Takei said.

“But be as imaginative and creative as Gene was,” he adds.

“Create a new character and make him or her gay with the issues he or she might have to deal with in the 23^rd century. That would be exciting. That would be paying tribute.”

Takei then added that Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the original series, is going to be honoured in the new television show.

“But now Gene is really going to be honoured by Star Trek: Discovery by having that original character, played by a wonderfully talented actor. I think it is the way it should’ve been done.”

Star Trek: Discover is set 10 years before the events of the original series and will debut on CBS in May 2017.

In This Article: