Filipino-born actor and model Jake Ofrasio was cast to play the role of Hikaru Sulu’s husband in the upcoming ‘Star Trek: Beyond’ Hollywood film.
The 33-year old video editor said that he was contacted by Dubai casting agency Miranda Davidson Studios for a ‘project’ and was asked to send his headshots.
“After about a week Miranda called me and told me that I had been shortlisted for Star Trek, and that it was actually a part and not just an extra. I was ecstatic! I couldn’t believe it,” Ofrasio was quoted to have said on Gulf News.
A few days after the call, a video audition was arranged in Dubai where Ofrasio was briefed about the role he was considered for.
“It was for the role of Sulu’s husband and I was supposed to be [on] another planet eagerly waiting for my husband to come home from a space exploration. But then our planet comes under attack and I have to do everything I can to save our daughter.”
Demora, Sulu’s daughter, has already made an appearance in Star Trek Generations (1994), but the husband is a completely new character created by Star Trek Beyond writers Simon Pegg and Doug Jung.
Unfortunately for aspiring actor Ofrasio, the role went to writer Jung, who is all set to make his acting debut.
“I wasn’t disappointed. I was just honoured to even think that all these powerful people in Hollywood had even seen little clip,” he recalls.
And it’s not all bad news. Ofrasio was offered the role of an extra in a scene shot in Dubai with Jung and a little girl, who he believes played Sulu’s daughter.
Ofrasio, who aspires to be a full-time actor, says he was paid Dh1,000 for the day’s work, which lasted about 10 hours.
Jake Ofrasio is known in the Philippines for his work on Numbalikdiwa (2006), Rakenrol (2011) and Putot (2006).
