John Cho’s Sulu Will Be Gay in Star Trek Beyond

Paramount Pictures‘ Star Trek Beyond is getting all sorts of attention, Sulu actor John Cho has revealed to the Herald Sun that the Enterprise helmsman will be revealed as gay and the father of a daughter with a same sex partner in the new film. This is in keeping with the utopian spirit of the franchise, which has always carried a progressive viewpoint whether it be to depict a Russian crew member (Pavel Chekov) during the height of the Cold War, or TV’s first interracial kiss between Kirk and Uhura as Civil Rights issues raged in the U.S. The revelation is also a tribute to original Sulu portrayer George Takei, who came out in recent years and has since become a vocal activist for LGBTQ rights.

“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,” said Cho.

Star Trek Beyond stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and John Cho along with new roles for Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella and Joe Taslim

Star Trek Beyond hit theaters on July 22.