Everything is falling into place for J.J. Abrams and the casting of the new "Star Trek" film. Now Sulu is on board in the person of John Cho, star of cult movie favorite "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle." This news according to today's Hollywood Reporter.

George Takei, the original Sulu, has reacted to today's news by telling STARTREK.COM:

"Sulu's in good hands. John Cho is an exciting actor. I've seen Cho in many productions at East West Players and he always brings a vigorous sense of individuality to his roles. Under the leadership of J.J. Abrams, the Star Trek franchise is being infused with new energy and I hope John Cho plays a critical part for many years — and films — to come."

—George Takei, October 12, 2007

Cho had been rumored for a good year to be a contender for Sulu, and when we had a chance to talk to him months ago he said, "My God, that would be an honor. I mean, I used to watch the Original Series when I was a kid. I've always thought it would be great to do a space joint." ("Joint" being a term popularized by Spike Lee.) He added that it would be fun to dress up in sci-fi spandex. "That's what I'm wearing now, so why not do it for money?"

Aside from his breakout role in "Harold & Kumar," Cho is also famous for a small but memorable part in the raunchy comedy "American Pie," and turned a few heads in the independent drama "Better Luck Tomorrow." Early in his acting career, in the late '90s, he did a guest spot in Abrams' Felicity. In 2006 People Magazine listed him as the 11th sexiest man alive.

Cho was recently seen on TV in the Brad Garrett sitcom 'Til Death, and he begins a recurring role next Thursday, October 18, on Ugly Betty as "Kenny." That Emmy Award-winning comedy, which co-stars Deep Space Nine alum Vanessa Williams, airs Thursday nights on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Cho has also filmed a sequel to "Harold & Kumar" that is slated for release in 2008, and is signed on for a crime thriller called "Expats."

Hikaru Sulu, as we all now, has typically been posted in the position of helmsman on the U.S.S. Enterprise (until he was promoted to captain of the Excelsior). However, when Sulu was first seen, in the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before," he was a physicist, the head of the ship's Astrosciences division.

By our reckoning, and according to the Hollywood Reporter story, the remaining characters to be cast are McCoy, Kirk and Captain Christoper Pike. The story in THR also mentions that the parents of James Kirk are yet to be cast.