George Takei, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek, has suddenly become the focus of a fan campaign to create a new Trek series. The campaign has taken flight with the imminent demise next year of Voyager, the only first-run Trek television series currently in production. Trekkers have taken it upon themselves to lobby Paramount Studios to base a new series on the character of Capt. Sulu and the crew of his starship, the U.S.S. Excelsior, which was prominently featured in the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

At the heart of the campaign is a desire by Trek purists to return the franchise to its roots. "The Star Trek legacy as spelled out by Trek creator Gene Roddenberry has been twisted and changed into something completely different," said campaign leader Russ Haslage. "That might have something to do with the sagging ratings and lack of revenues Paramount has seen from the last feature film and its current television series, Star Trek: Voyager."

For Takei, who has made a point of keeping a low profile concerning the campaign, the fan activism is reminiscent of the lobbying that revived the franchise in the first place, after NBC canceled the original series in 1969. The actor spoke with SCIFI.COM last week from his office in Los Angeles about the phenomenon.

What do you think of the Excelsior Campaign

Takei: Isn't that amazing? It certainly is very flattering. But I'm amazed ... at the consistency of Star Trek fans over the generations. As you know, when Star Trek was canceled after the second season, it was the activism of the fans that revived it for a third season. Then when we went into syndication, that's when the big Star Trek Lives campaign began. It may have taken 10 years, but Star Trek came back as a series of major motion pictures. So the history of Star Trek is one directed, guided and determined by the Star Trek fans, and here they are again, asserting themselves.

Have you been contacted by the organizers of the Excelsior Campaign?

Takei: Yes, the fans have e-mailed me or written letters saying, "We want this show, and I hope you'll do it when we accomplish what we set out to do."

Would you be interested in doing it?

Takei: Absolutely! I love the show, and I'm proud of my association with the show, and certainly the character is one that is very much a part of me... . I thrive on acting, and the idea of being back in the harness again [is attractive]. I'm a horse in a stable right now, just stamping his hoofs to get back into harness [laughs].