The original Mr. Sulu wants you to know that he is not actively lobbying for a role in the next Star Trek movie. Watch him .
Takei: I’m not lobbying for Star Trek movie role
George Takei was being interviewed by Rumor Fix at a fundraiser earlier this month and was asked a question about coming out and former California Governor Arnold Swarzenegger, and he turned the topic into dispelling any notion that he is lobbying for a part in the next Star Trek, saying:
The word seems to have gotten out that I am lobbying for a role in the next Star Trek movie. But the truth of that is that I was asked in an interview by a journalist would I want to be in the next Star Trek film? What actor would not? So I said yes. So that person interpreted that and has been saying that I am enthusiastic and lobbying vigorously to be – so I am very careful with my word choice.
Watch the exchange below…
Takei is apparently talking about an interview he did last month with Parade, which included this exchange.
Would you ever consider participating in a future Star Trek film or TV series?
“All they have to do is ask me! I’m more than eager [laughs]. As you know, Leonard Nimoy did two of the rebooted films with J.J. Abrams, and they’re preparing another one because in two years, Star Trek’s going to be 50 years old…so they’ll be coming out with another major feature film with a rebooted cast.”
So to be clear, Takei really wants to be in the next Star Trek, but he is waiting to be asked and not the one doing the asking.
Takei’s last film appearance as Sulu – in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (1991)
POLL: What about Takei, Nichols and Koenig?
Yesterday we started a poll asking if you were interested in seeing William Shatner and/or Leonard Nimoy in the 2016 Star Trek movie, but what about the other three living original Star Trek actors?
[poll id=”738″]
What happened with George`s face?
I say why not! Bob, you make the big bucks and you are a smart man. You and you writing staff could figure out a logical sensible way to somehow include the 5 remaining cast members from TOS. It could be some type of past or alternate timeline echos type of plot device. Tha’ts my 2 cents worth.
I bet that he was really mad when he read the recent rumor about Bill :-)
Getting all of the cast in the film could be rather tricky, and you sure don’t want to neglect your main storyline. I have to vote no, unless the writers can come up with something really really creative!
I’d rather see picard, or worf or data, even Tuvok, than more side characters from TOS. They really were bit parts. Spread the love if you must, but do it for the story and for the event that is 50 years of Trek. Not the egos of the individuals.
Personally, I’d lobby for a cameo by John Winston…
I get his meaning. Many Star Trek alum have said sure they would take a role. I mean, they would be fools otherwise. So I don’t have an issue with his comments. But he is not knocking at Orci’s door everyday begging for a role (or at least I don’t think so).
Bakula said much the same thing. He is not lobbying for a role necessarily, but he wouldn’t say no if asked. He acknowledged the chances of that are virtually nil.
And in all fairness to Shatner, I haven’t heard recently that he is actively lobbying for a role in the next film either.
Why not? Get everyone in there.
You know what this movie needs? More Ruk…
Kirk and Spock. No Bloody Sulu, No Bloody Chekov, no Bloody Uhura.
He should be at the premiere… should be part of the games… but the movie? It would get ridiculous if all of the surviving TOS actors showed up. Even one scene would look odd. Shat and Nimoy, and keep it brief and sensible.
Please.
I’d love to see them all back.
The only person I would like to see of these three is Nichelle Nichols. She still has that lovely grace and charm and could make a good older Nyota Uhura female mentor.
Obviously, George got bit by one of those flying pizza’s from “Operation: Anhilate”…
It was going to eat Brad, but George jumped in and saved the day.
You know what, @boborci, let’s just forget our news guys for the next movie and give the old ones the spotlight one last time! There, you have it. Now, rewrite it!
Just kidding. :-P
But not quite. ;-)
Another way to use Shatner without undoing Kirk Prime’s death: remake “The Deadly Years” and have Chris Pine “deteriorate” into William Shatner, who must simultaneously save the universe despite his aging and imminent death, until Spock Prime reveals how to cure the disease and turn him back into Chris Pine.
How about a poll that says No Takei.
To be honest, I’m kind of sick of old actors asking (or in this case) being asked and hounded if they want to be in the next movie. I thought Nimoy’s appearance in the first BR movie worked perfectly. Spock Prime’s inclusion felt natural, and unforced — unlike his cameo in “Into Darkness” which I thought was unnecessary.
If I want to watch Shatner, Nimoy, Takei, Stewart, Shimmerman, et al. I have the previous movies and shows to watch. I’m pretty much “cameo-ed out” at this point.
http://www.theindychannel.com/entertainment/george-takei-in-skin-cancer-scare-report_44754741
This is about his bandage, Neil.
I just want new and fresh ideas and not recycled plotlines. I felt let down with Into Darkness just for that very reason. Cameos are fun and respectful nods to the original cast but if ST is to live beyond this recent incarnation, it needs to forge its own intriguing path and not just find ways or excuses to include the Original cast members to recount a history that technically shouldn’t exist in the alternate universe.
The next movie should be a remake of The Deadly Years, and. Ll of the main characters should age into their original actors. Okay, that is a really stupid idea, but I don’t care. I want the original cast back.
Theory A: Shatner had enough of all the fixated badmouthing and finally gave Takei a good slug.
Theory B: Takei is lobbying for a role as the Mirror Sulu and took the pursuit of his craft a little -too- seriously.
Damn, Shatner still has one helluva right cross.
Hmmm……people accuse the writers of not doing anything original but on the other hand, are suggesting the next movie should be a remake of “The Deadly Years” just so that the remaining TOS cast can be crammed in?
Yeah….I’m hoping Bob doesn’t listen to the fans.
As much as I would have loved a Captain Sulu story at one point I just want an awesome original story. Spock Prime is a part of the JJverse now but at this point a third appearance woul even be overkill. Let’s just do something new and original. You always hear that The Shat wants to be part but then you hear he’s asks for a huge salary. Just make a great movie that will insure 50 more years of going boldly Mr. Orci!
As much as I would have loved a Captain Sulu story at one point I just want an awesome original story. Spock Prime is a part of the JJverse now but at this point a third appearance woul even be overkill. Let’s just do something new and original. You always hear that The Shat wants to be part but then you hear he’s asks for a huge salary. Just make a great movie that will insure 50 more years of going boldly Mr. Orci!
8. Phil – September 23, 2014
Why not? Get everyone in there.
LOL
I agree with you here.
And Takei, in particular, has really worn out his welcome with his years on end of Shatner-bashing. George, you’ve got your Shatner-bashing routine going on. That should be enough to keep you in work for the time being.
How about the next movie without any cameos?
Are the reboot movies incapable of not being able to hold their own?
Good grief, “The Deadly Years” was one of the worst episodes of TOS ever.
If Mr Shatner won’t do a cameo, I’d suggest he sit this one out and host 50th Anniversary Star Trek specials.
Otherwise, why not have TOS Kirk swoop in from the Nexus, pluck Spock out of the AltVerse, and have a joyful reunion on the Bridge of whatever ship Kirk is captaining? This could be short scenes interspersed or one small part of the movie.
But I’d really rather they let the AltVerse stand by itself with the new, young actors, and have a mid-credits scene with Kirk and Spock. “But how did you get to the Alternate Universe to find me?” Spock asks. Kirk replies, with typical bravado, “That Nexus … amazing place. As you can see, I never really died.”
Ehh, it’s all kind of wishful/silly/fannish/fanfiction-ish thinking, and after all the complaints of “fanservice” after STiD, I think it should just stop.
Fuck it. Get them all in it (even Kelly and Doohan via CG)
I was kind of joking with the Deadly Years suggestion. Kind of.
Either way, you are saying you want to be in the film just by making this public comment via the Internet. So please don’t say one thing, then do another, Mr. Takei.
I can live with cameos from Shatner and Nimoy, but also adding the others, is really too much. Just concentrate on the new cast.
Get them all in it for an opening scene set post Trek VI era (CG Kelly and Doohan)
I love how this idiot starts his own rumour about being in the next movie.
With that being said, I’d be fine with it. But to be honest, I’d laugh hysterically if the script had Kirk and Sulu and Shatner agreed to do it if they dropped Takei. That would be awesome.
# 18. Red Dead Ryan – September 23, 2014
” To be honest, I’m kind of sick of old actors…” — Red Dead Ryan
Out of context? Perhaps, but nevertheless succinctly fingers a constant theme in your diatribes against Trek’s veteran actors.
Your attempts to Yankovic “short people” with “old actors” in Newman’s song titled with the same phrase is no longer amusing.
If getting the original actors in the movie is doable, it would BE part of the main storyline–not something that would interrupt it.
I’d love to see anyone from the original cast involved in their iconic roles, but Kirk Prime for me is the most important because I really want the character to have a ride off into the sunset moment with Spock Prime, alive and well.
@24. Oh, I’ve been rolling my eyes at the irony, that a few of the loudest complainers about JJ/Bob/BR, and formula writing are suddenly proponents of formula writing, or grabbing every known plot device has produced, to satisfy that stirring in the loins to see Shatner and Nimoy on screen again.
It’s be funny except they are dead serious….
#36.
And your attempt to be clever with metaphorical references in your attack against my post simply illustrates your misunderstanding (or deliberate distortion) of my reservations of more cameos from previous cast members and makes what you say somewhat clumsy and incoherent.
And who the hell is Newman? I assume you’re not talking about the fat mailman from “Seinfeld”? :-)
35. TUP – September 24, 2014
I love how this idiot starts his own rumour about being in the next movie.
LOL
I’d laugh hysterically if the script had Kirk and Sulu and Shatner agreed to do it if they dropped Takei.
LOL!!
#39. Red Dead Ryan – September 24, 2014
Randy Newman, composer “Short People”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_People
I refer to your “old actor” diatribes, which you wrap in “continual” cameo clothing:
“It doesn’t do fan productions any favors when the producers continually bring back eighty-year old actors to reprise a guest role from almost fifty years ago. Michael Forrest clearly struggled in the fan flick. It was painful to watch.” — Red Dead Ryan – February 23, 2014
Considering Takei’s record, I’ll just bet he was the one who started this “Let’s get Sulu into this new movie” ‘rumor’. Let’s face it, this new movie isn’t going to be about celebrating Star Trek, it’s just going to be another summer blockbuster with ‘splosions & semi nudity to titillate. There won’t be any awe or wonder or exploring the human condition tht made Star Trek in the 1st place. It’ll be about the bottom line, profit.
Yes, I know Roddenberry was about profit, too. But he had Gene Coon , Dorothy Fontana, & a host of great Sci-Fi writers to call on to make Star Trek brilliant & heartfelt.
42. DAK23 – September 24, 2014
“Let’s face it, this new movie isn’t going to be about celebrating Star Trek, it’s just going to be another summer blockbuster with ‘splosions & semi nudity to titillate. There won’t be any awe or wonder or exploring the human condition that made Star Trek in the 1st place.”
—————————-
I do very much hope you are mistaken, Sir. I shall be very, very disappointed if you’re right. (I am, however, partial to ‘semi-nudity’ though) :)
The old Trek person I’d like to see involved with the new movie is Dorothy Fontana. A lot of her TOS episodes were really good — especially “Journey to Babel” and “The Enterprise Incident” — and she understands TOS in a way that few people do. Since she story doctored the first two seasons, she should be great at polishing the rough draft of the script for the third reboot movie and making it quintessentially Star Trek.
BOB ORCI: A viginette, at the beginning or near the end of the next movie — with TOS cast, and/or whomever you deem appropriate — however, NOT if it takes away from whatever storyline you guys are crafting for ST-13. Certainly Bill and Leonard would be welcome, as would any of the cast of TOS. But repeating, ONLY if it adds to and propels your new story forward — and somehow evokes character growth in the NEW ACTORS’ characters.
It’s a movie. And like I’ve always liked to say, in literary fiction anything is possible. In Science Fiction, EVERYthing is possible.
Bob, you and your fellow creative teams have done is proud TWICE already. Just go and do what it is you know how to do, in whatever way you are inspired (by G. Roddenberry’s vision) to do. GODSPEED, bud.
#41.
That wasn’t a diatribe. I was telling it like it is. Michael Forrest clearly couldn’t pull it off.
I am hoping Pothos cameos in Trek 3.
# 46. Red Dead Ryan – September 24, 2014
” That wasn’t a diatribe. I was telling it like it is. Michael Forrest clearly couldn’t pull it off.” — Red Dead Ryan
No, that statement you gave right there was telling it like you saw it.
This:
“It doesn’t do fan productions any favors when the producers continually bring back eighty-year old actors to reprise a guest role from almost fifty years ago.” — Red Dead Ryan
was a diatribe against old actors and one you’ve repeated in one form or another more than once.
George Takei: Me too!