by JAMES WOODARD
Hokubei Mainichi
John Cho, who stars in the recently released "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay," will play Hikaru Sulu from the pop-classic TV series "Star Trek."
The 11th "Star Trek" movie in the 43-year history of the iconic franchise will be released next year.
Cho was in town this spring during the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival to promote the sequel to "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" as well as "West 32nd," a drama set in New York City that he also stars in. "West 32nd" was produced by Korean and Korean American filmmakers.
"I'd hoped for a good response among Asian Americans, some Asian Americans," Cho said about his role in the new Harold and Kumar film. "I was a little trepidatious with the first movie, and I think (among) some Asian Americans, particularly the old guard, there's an inclination with the previous generation to want noble characters, noble Asian characters, and certainly we weren't giving them that, so I wasn't sure if people would take this to heart, or whether people would consider this an Asian American movie in a positive sense."
Cho also recognized that in much of the advertising for the first Harold and Kumar movie, he was touted as the Asian American guy from "American Pie."
Cho, as Harold, and Kal Penn, as his buddy Kumar, appear as the next-generation Cheech and Chong, with bongs and buds that get them into heaps of trouble, with cops, rednecks, and the Transportation Security Administration. In the latest film, the two are sent to a parody version of Guantananmo Bay, after being ordered there by an overzealous (and racist) Homeland Security officer played by Rob Corddry.
What ensues are off-color jokes about sex, drugs and the War on Terror. This film will easily offend many people. But even though the characters are almost always jonesing for a joint, neither Penn nor Cho smokes marijuana.
"There should be a drunk or controlled substance award at the Oscars," Cho joked.
During a roundtable discussion with the Asian American press, Cho was asked whether he felt that the roles he'd gotten had been a breakthrough, and whether or not he felt a responsibility to any broad sense of the community.
"I'm not sure that I've ever had a breakthrough in anything," he said about his roles. 'American Pie' did manage to help a few of the roles, however; particularly comedies."
But he does feel a responsibility for his portrayals, and finds it an "odd burden."
"It's no accident that I've never done anything with a "chop-suey" accent. There are a lot of Asian American actors who feel that "that's the price to pay" before you get to where you're going," Cho explained.
"I take real issue with that because you have to maintain integrity from the start. And you have to, on a personal level, do something that wonﾕt make you sick to your stomach. But on a political level, how are things ever supposed to change, as long as you have someone willing to do it?" he said about other Asian actors' willingness to portray stereotypical roles.
"Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" is a film that has nothing to do with the war; it merely acts as a device for comedy - or as Cho said, "to make fart jokes." The absurd situations the duo encounter include running from the Ku Klux Klan, escaping from Guantanamo (thus the name of the film) and other ridiculous situations, which includes a weed-smoking session with the current president.
Cho briefly talked about the upcoming Star Trek prequel, although he couldnﾕt say much.
"I think we've all tried to honor the original series and do something new at the same time," Cho said of the dedication of the cast and crew of the film.
He did talk about his relationship with the original Sulu, George Takei. "I've always just been blown away by George Takei, his presence on the bridge, in contrast to what other Asians were doing in television (in the 1960s). He was just such a beacon."
"We talked. I wrote him a letter and asked if we could have lunch. We did, he had some words of wisdom. Mostly we just had a good time," Cho said of Takei. "He's like a Renaissance man, it's like he stepped out of a time machine. They don't make men like him anymore. He's well versed in all these subjects, very literate, and in shape."
"I don't know where he got this voice. I don't know where he bought this voice, but it's very low," he said of Takei's unique baritone voice.
The buttery-voiced baritone who defined the role has publicly praised Cho for his portrayal. He has said in numerous TV interviews, "Sulu is in good hands."
The new "Star Trek" film is directed by J.J. Abrams, the producer of the TV series "Alias" and "Lost" and the film "Cloverfield," the writer of "Armageddon" and the director of "Mission Impossible III."
The film is set to hit theaters in May of 2009.
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