Takei Talks “Trek”
By Patrick Douglas

When filmmaker J.J. Abrams decided to take on the task of creating a prequel for “Star Trek” based on the classic story, he wanted to make sure that there was a certain continuity between the old and new.

To do that, he called on some of the original cast members to help find the new talent.

“J.J. Abrams was very concerned about how he was gonna cast and he asked me to have breakfast with him and he told me that he’d been interviewing many Asian actors for the part [of Sulu],” explained original Sulu actor George Takei. “He told me he was thinking of John Cho and I said, ‘John would be wonderful.’”

Cho, best known for playing the role of Harold in the two “Harold and Kumar” films, is playing the younger Sulu.

“I’m on the Board of Governors on the East West Players here, an Asian American theatre company, and John had done many plays for us. Before I had that breakfast with J.J., I said, ‘He’s a versatile actor,’” recalled Takei. “I’ve seen him do comedy, I’ve seen him do very serious drama and he would be wonderful.’ Assured by that, he went on and cast him.”

What followed was a meeting between Takei and Cho, where the elder statesman offered his advice to the next generation.

“He asked me to have lunch with him and I told him, ‘Do your thing. I’ve seen you work. You’re a talented actor,’” recalled Takei. “I assured him, ‘It won’t be long before I’m known as the old guy who played John Cho’s part.”

“All the scuttlebutt I’m hearing is that John’s done a great job,” he said. “Sulu’s got a new lease on life.”

While original Spock actor Leonard Nimoy will be the only returning actor in the new film, Takei is excited about the job Abrams did in casting the other characters, more specifically Spock’s Zach Qunito.

“I told Zach, ‘Congratulations, first of all, but all you need to do to know what you’re gonna look like in 40 years is to look at Leonard Nimoy because you guys are a spitting image of each other,’” said Takei. “’I knew Leonard 40 years ago and I would’ve mistaken you, Zach, for Leonard back then.’”

Looking back, Takei considers “Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country” as his favorite film to have been a part of.

“Sulu got his captaincy. That really is a Sulu film,” he explained. “’Star Trek VI,’ I think that should’ve been titled ‘Sulu to the Rescue,’ because without that, I think Kirk would’ve been a goner. Kirk was about to be blown into smithereens by the Klingons when Sulu appears out of the galactic skies and blows the Klingon captain … into smithereens.”

While the “Star Trek” community will be anxiously awaiting the May 8 release of the new film, Takei will be listed among the throngs of anxious fans rather than a participant.

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing the finished film,” he said.