Star Trek Beyond is boldly going where no movie has gone before. Into Sulu”s personal life.
When Star Trek first aired back in 1966, it was revolutionary. Here was a diverse cast of people, living and working together in what Gene Roddenberry”s hoped was the future of humanity. In a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in many states, Star Trek dared to show the first interracial kiss on American television. But there were limits to what kind of “shocking moments” society was ready to see. So Sulu (George Takei) was a lot of things: a fencer, a senior officer, a gymnast. But he never got a love interest or a family*.
*In the film Star Trek: Generations, Sulu had a daughter named Demora, but I”m referring specifically to the show.
All that is about to change. Speaking to the Herald Sun, John Cho revealed fans would get to meet Sulu”s husband and daughter in Star Trek Beyond.
“I liked the approach, which was not to make a big thing out it, which is where I hope we are going as a species, to not politicise one”s personal orientations.”
The description says we”ll get to see Sulu as a ‘loving father” so I hope that means a scene of him at home with his family, just doing mundane things before it all hits the fan again. Cho also confirmed Sulu”s orientation was an homage to George Takei.
As we move forward into the 21st century, I can only hope the ‘no big deal” approach to LGBT families shown in Star Trek Beyond is once again prophetic of where we”ll be as a society in another 50 years.
Star Trek Beyond opens in theater on July 22, 2016.