Takei Is Happy To Join Up With 'Heroes'

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[compman777]

By Michelle
January 21, 2007 - 3:23 AM

George Takei (Sulu) said that one of his biggest challenge on NBC's hit Heroes is performing all his scenes in Japanese - the first time he has ever acted in the language of the country of his ancestors, though he speaks it fluently.

"Here it is, prime-time network popular television, and [we have] whole scenes being played in a foreign language with English subtitles," Takei told Sci Fi Wire. "I think it's a great commentary on how sophisticated and how global our television-viewing audience has become."

Takei will play the tradition-bound father of time-traveler Hiro Nakamura. "I really don't know who my character is and why my character does what he does and what his motivations are," Takei admitted. "With each new script, I make new discoveries. Is he good or is he bad? Is he domineering or is he being told to behave that way? I mean, there's so many ambiguous things about it."

The character of Hiro's father is an industrialist from a well-respected family who finds his son's unusual talents a challenge to his desire for a child who will follow in his footsteps. Because Hiro is known to be a Star Trek fan, Takei believes they should make reference to his role on the original series: "They should work it in there. At least, 'Papa, you look like Sulu.'" The actor has filmed three episodes of Heroes and believes his character may return for more.

[Kosh GTO]

After seeing him in Shatner roast,i was l;aughing so hard.Well i will not mind seeing her again.

[compman777]

"her"?? its a he.

[Kosh GTO]

sorry i mean he

[compman777]

well, he is gay in real life, so I thought you were making a joke.

[Kosh GTO]

was i???? :)

[Valkyrie]

LOL I think the idea of him saying he looks like Sulu is brilliant!  Maybe work in a swordfight too!

[compman777]

well that might work. it will be interesting to see what type of character he will be for example serious, Etc.

[Kosh GTO]

i had an old article about that topic,but on Starfyerz they didn't like it as much so i left it behind.I could dig it up again.

[compman777]

if you want to and people find it enjoyable I don't see why not.

[Valkyrie]

I remember reading the article, but that was a while ago.  You should pull it up again & add it to this as a companion piece.  :)

[Kosh GTO]

yes i looked and it's gone :)

[compman777]

so what happened to it someone delete it?

[Kosh GTO]

here it is compy :)


 "Heroes" is taking an ambiguous twist when it returns for the second half of the first season this month. There will be an introduction of two new characters, one of which is the father of Masi Oka’s Hiro Nakamura. But can he really be trusted? According to SciFi Wire, not even the actor playing him, George Takei, knows the answer.

"The thing is — and this is the part of the challenge of doing Heroes — I really don't know who my character is and why my character does what he does and what his motivations are and where he's going," Takei said. "Because with each new script, I make new discoveries. Is he good or is he bad? Is he domineering or is he being told to behave that way? I mean, there's so many ambiguous things about it."

Mr. Nakamura Sr. is actually a stern-natured entrepreneur who disapproves of his son's lofty idealism and his decision to become a hero, and ultimately his opinions will cause a few problems for Hiro.

"I'm a powerful industrialist,” he said. “We come from a very distinguished family. An old-line family. I was brought up that way, and I thought I would bring up my son that way. But I'm discovering that there are strange things happening."

But all of that was fine for Takei … the real challenge lay in speaking all his lines in Japanese. Although the actor does speak the language fluently, it was the first time he’d ever worked that way.

"It's a commentary on the television viewing audience," he said. "Here it is, prime-time network popular television, and [we have] whole scenes being played in a foreign language with English subtitles. I think it's a great commentary on how sophisticated and how global our television-viewing audience has become. ... I haven't worked in Japan in Japanese. And here I am in the United States working in Japanese with English subtitles. So that's a delight, but it's also a challenge because it's not my first language."

The exact number of episodes the actor is in is still up for negotiation, but there is the possibility of more and if Takei has anything to say about it, it will include a Sulu reference. A sentiment which has already been voiced by Oka.

"They should work it in there,” he said. “At least, 'Papa, you look like Sulu.'"

"Heroes" returns Jan. 22 on NBC.

[Valkyrie]

Thanks Kosh.  It's pretty similar to the first one, but more expansive.  :)