George Takei Read 50 Shades Of Grey, And It Was Perfect
George Takei and erotica? Sure, it can happen. We might forget now, but there was a time when 50 Shades of Grey represented a “controversial” book. After all, it was erotic literature at its best/ worst, captivating a whole generation of folks who couldn’t wait to get their hands on (pun intended) the Ana Steele and Christian Grey. Were the books good? No. Were they popular? Oh my goodness, yes.
And sometimes the best versions of books like 50 Shades of Grey come when we hear the stories from the the most unlikely of narrators. Enter George Takei. A few many years ago, Takei caught wind of the story and was encouraged by fans to sit down and have a go at it. He did, and thankfully for us, recorded it.
Check out George Takei reading 50 Shades of Grey and tell us he shouldn’t have been commissioned for the audiobook.
The “Oh my…” is what really sells this George Takei reading. Sure, it’s his catchphrase but it also works its way perfectly into the subtext of the 50 Shades of Grey story. Is that what E.L. James was picturing when she first sat down to pen this masterpiece? Of course not, but that doesn’t stop it from working anyway.
When 50 Shades of Grey came out, it was controversial because it contained extremely explicit descriptions of sex and BDSM, and possibly even glorified relationships that didn’t seem all that healthy. Did make sales suffer? Oh hell no. Heck, it might have even helped with the book selling over 150 million copies worldwide. Oh, and we got the movies as well. From that standpoint, it didn’t really need George Takei.
E.L. James started it as Twilight fan fiction before re-working it into the 50 Shades trilogy. What a pivot.
George Takei taking over narration duties for 50 Shades of Grey does make it a joke, something many think the book already is, adding a touch of humor simply by contrast. Would Star Trek fans like 50 Shades of Grey? Not likely. Would they like to see Sulu getting into the BDSM mix? Well, you tell us.
George Takei is currently 87 years old and reading 50 Shades of Grey isn’t the only thing he’s been up to in recent years. His voice has been part of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series and he even reprised his Sulu character in the Star Trek animated series Star Trek: Very Short Treks.
And maybe if there are ever more 50 Shades of Grey stories, he can get in on the action there as well.
