'Star Trek Beyond' release date, spoilers news: Mr. Sulu revealed as first gay character in 'Star Trek' franchise; George Takei not happy

"Star Trek" alum George Takei, who is gay, was not pleased with the news that Hikaru Sulu, the character he portrayed in the "Star Trek" franchise in the '60s, is gay.

Sulu is played in the upcoming "Star Trek Beyond" by John Cho, who recently revealed the character's sexual orientation. During a press tour for the film, Cho shared the news in an interview with the Australian newspaper The Herald Sun. According to the actor, when viewers next see the crew of the USS Enterprise, Sulu will be depicted as having a male partner, with whom he has a daughter. This makes Sulu the first openly gay character in the "Star Trek" franchise.

Cho said that the new detail about Sulu is dropped casually and without much fuss, which he appreciated.

"I liked the approach, which was not to make a big thing out of it," he said. "[That] is where I hope we are going as a species, to not politicize one's personal orientations."

The idea to make Sulu gay was a homage by "Star Trek Beyond" director Justin Lin and writer (and star) Simon Pegg to Takei, the original Sulu. Takei, an outspoken proponent of LGBT rights, came out as gay in 2005, long after he played Sulu in the original "Star Trek" films and TV series. He married Brad Altman, his long-time partner, in 2008.

However, Takei didn't take the news of Sulu's sexuality as expected.

"I'm delighted that there's a gay character," Takei told The Hollywood Reporter. "Unfortunately, it's a twisting of Gene's creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it's really unfortunate."

According to the actor, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry had always meant for Sulu to be a heterosexual.

Pegg later responded to Takei's comment, saying that while he has "huge love and respect" for the "Star Trek" veteran, he doesn't see things the same way.

"[W]ith regards to his thoughts on our Sulu, I must respectfully disagree with him," Pegg wrote in a statement to The Guardian. According to Pegg, Rodenberry's decision to make Sulu a heterosexual wasn't really an artistic one but more "a necessity of the time."

"Star Trek Beyond" hits theaters Friday, July 22.