Hikaru Sulu is a fictional character who is portrayed by actor George Takei in the original Star Trek series, the first six Star Trek films and one episode of Star Trek: Voyager. In the new Star Trek film, the younger Sulu will be played by John Cho.
Creation
George Takei recalled Gene Roddenberry wanted the character to represent all of Asia, which symbolized the peace of the Trek universe in spite of the numerous wars in the continent. Roddenberry did not want a nationally specific surname, so he looked at a map and saw the Sulu Sea. "He thought, 'Ah, the waters of that sea touch all shores'," the actor recalled, "and that's how my character came to have the name Sulu."[2]
Novelist Vonda McIntyre first presents 'Hikaru' as the character's first name in the novel The Entropy Effect.[3] However, the name did not become canon until its mention in Star Trek VI, and it was included only after Peter David, who authored the film's comic book adaptation, visited the set and convinced director Nicholas Meyer to insert it.[4]
[edit] Fictional character history
The fictional character Hikaru Sulu was born in San Francisco[5], to a Japanese and a Filipino. He was shown as the USS Enterprise's staff physicist in the pilot episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before",[6] but served as helmsman throughout the rest of the series, during which he held the rank of lieutenant.[7]
Throughout the series, Sulu is shown having many interests and hobbies, including botany,[8] fencing,[9] and ancient weaponry[10] (Spock says that he "is at heart a swashbuckler out of the 18th century").[11]
The character is promoted to lieutenant commander some time before Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and to full commander by the time of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.[5] During the first five Star Trek movies, he serves as helmsman aboard both the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A.[7] He is promoted to captain and given command of the USS Excelsior three years before the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.[5]
Star Trek Generations[12] introduces Hikaru's daughter, Demora Sulu,[7] whose origins are also depicted in Peter David's non-canon novel The Captain's Daughter.[13]
[edit] Guest appearances
George Takei reprised the role of Sulu, as part of Star Trek's 30th anniversary, in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Flashback".[14] In the episode, Admiral Sulu appears in Tuvok's flashbacks of his time serving aboard the USS Excelsior, during events depicted in Star Trek VI.[7]
The non-canon fan production Star Trek: New Voyages episode "World Enough and Time" starred George Takei as Captain Sulu on the Excelsior recalling a time on the original Enterprise when a transporter accident caused him to come back thirty years older and with a daughter, Ilana. Demora also appears in this episode, as well as Hikaru's granddaughter.[15]
[edit] Other media
The Lost Era novel The Sundered[16] depicts a USS Excelsior mission under Sulu's command.
The novel Forged in Fire[17] depicts an earlier USS Excelsior mission prior to Sulu's assuming command of the ship.
Simon & Schuster Audioworks released three non-canon Captain Sulu Adventures, featuring voice acting by Takei and various others, in the mid-1990s: Transformations,[18] Cacophany,[19] and Envoy.[20]
In the Federation portion of the game Star Trek: Starfleet Command, the tutorials are taught by Captain Sulu, voiced by Takei.
Sulu has been spoofed on an episode of Family Guy from season 5, in "Stewie Loves Lois".
In the TV show Scrubs, Turk wants to be married by a priest who looks like Sulu. The priest is actually played by George Takei.
[edit] Mirror Universe
In the mirror universe from the episode "Mirror, Mirror", Scotty likens the Mirror-Sulu's personality to that of a Gestapo officer[citation needed]. He has a scar down the right side of his face.
George Takei recalled Gene Roddenberry wanted the character to represent all of Asia, which symbolized the peace of the Trek universe in spite of the numerous wars in the continent. Roddenberry did not want a nationally specific surname, so he looked at a map and saw the Sulu Sea. "He thought, 'Ah, the waters of that sea touch all shores'," the actor recalled, "and that's how my character came to have the name Sulu."[2]
Novelist Vonda McIntyre first presents 'Hikaru' as the character's first name in the novel The Entropy Effect.[3] However, the name did not become canon until its mention in Star Trek VI, and it was included only after Peter David, who authored the film's comic book adaptation, visited the set and convinced director Nicholas Meyer to insert it.[4]
[edit] Fictional character history
The fictional character Hikaru Sulu was born in San Francisco[5], to a Japanese and a Filipino. He was shown as the USS Enterprise's staff physicist in the pilot episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before",[6] but served as helmsman throughout the rest of the series, during which he held the rank of lieutenant.[7]
Throughout the series, Sulu is shown having many interests and hobbies, including botany,[8] fencing,[9] and ancient weaponry[10] (Spock says that he "is at heart a swashbuckler out of the 18th century").[11]
The character is promoted to lieutenant commander some time before Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and to full commander by the time of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.[5] During the first five Star Trek movies, he serves as helmsman aboard both the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A.[7] He is promoted to captain and given command of the USS Excelsior three years before the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.[5]
Star Trek Generations[12] introduces Hikaru's daughter, Demora Sulu,[7] whose origins are also depicted in Peter David's non-canon novel The Captain's Daughter.[13]
[edit] Guest appearances
George Takei reprised the role of Sulu, as part of Star Trek's 30th anniversary, in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Flashback".[14] In the episode, Admiral Sulu appears in Tuvok's flashbacks of his time serving aboard the USS Excelsior, during events depicted in Star Trek VI.[7]
The non-canon fan production Star Trek: New Voyages episode "World Enough and Time" starred George Takei as Captain Sulu on the Excelsior recalling a time on the original Enterprise when a transporter accident caused him to come back thirty years older and with a daughter, Ilana. Demora also appears in this episode, as well as Hikaru's granddaughter.[15]
[edit] Other media
The Lost Era novel The Sundered[16] depicts a USS Excelsior mission under Sulu's command.
The novel Forged in Fire[17] depicts an earlier USS Excelsior mission prior to Sulu's assuming command of the ship.
Simon & Schuster Audioworks released three non-canon Captain Sulu Adventures, featuring voice acting by Takei and various others, in the mid-1990s: Transformations,[18] Cacophany,[19] and Envoy.[20]
In the Federation portion of the game Star Trek: Starfleet Command, the tutorials are taught by Captain Sulu, voiced by Takei.
Sulu has been spoofed on an episode of Family Guy from season 5, in "Stewie Loves Lois".
In the TV show Scrubs, Turk wants to be married by a priest who looks like Sulu. The priest is actually played by George Takei.
[edit] Mirror Universe
In the mirror universe from the episode "Mirror, Mirror", Scotty likens the Mirror-Sulu's personality to that of a Gestapo officer[citation needed]. He has a scar down the right side of his face.
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