Why Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry Hated The Character Of Saavik

Nicholas Meyer’s “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Nation” sees Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) going to a Klingon jail for a political assassination they did not commit. The assassination was, in fact, the results of a shadowy conspiracy of Federation rogues and Klingon splinters who needed to see the crumbling Chilly Struggle proceed. On the finish of the film, it is revealed that Spock’s protégé, a young Vulcan named Valeris (Kim Cattrall), was a key conspirator on the united statesS. Enterprise, and was even gearing as much as commit homicide to cowl her tracks on the matter. Valeris had beforehand been cool and charismatic (for a Vulcan), so the revelation that she was a saboteur got here as fairly a shock. 

It could have been much more of a shock if an early concept for “Star Trek VI” had been applied. Meyer had initially needed Valeris to be Saavik, the younger Vulcan performed by Kirstie Alley in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” and by Robin Curtis in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Dwelling.” There have been many causes that Saavik was changed for “Star Trek VI.” For one, Meyer needed Kirstie Alley to return to the sequence, and she or he didn’t. Additionally, Meyer did not like Robin Curtis (for unknown causes). 

Additionally, additionally some expressed a bit of trepidation that Saavik, a longtime and well-liked character, can be changed into a turncoat. Amongst these expressing trepidation was “Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry himself, a reality recorded in a 1992 difficulty of Cinefantastique Magazine. Roddenberry, as is his standard ethos, did not like that an trustworthy character would instantly grow to be dishonest and invite battle. 

What fewer individuals know, although, is that Gene Roddenberry really objected to the inclusion of Saavik within the “Star Trek” franchise method again when “Star Trek II” was being made. Saavik was not one among Gene Roddenberry’s creations, and he objected strenuously to her inclusion on the bridge of the united statesS. Enterprise. His causes for the objection are … unclear.

Many Trekkies might need heard the previous story: that Gene Roddenberry did not like the concept of a long-time, beloved character like Saavik being a sellout. Cinefantastique quoted an nameless supply who labored on the movie, and so they stated very instantly that Roddenberry “hated the concept.” That “a personality as beloved as a part of the legend should not be a traitor.” 

However this is not fairly proper.

It needs to be remembered that Gene Roddenberry, the unique creator of “Star Trek” was excluded from the production of “Star Trek II” when 1979’s “Star Trek: The Movement Image” did not make fairly sufficient cash for the studio. He retained government producer standing, however creatively was basically changed by producer Harve Bennett. Roddenberry was very, very bitter about it.

Nicholas Meyer was employed to put in writing and direct “Star Trek II,” and he was the one who created Saavik, a younger protégé for Spock (Leonard Nimoy). As Bennett recalled, a butt-hurt Roddenberry objected to the inclusion of Saavik as a result of she was half-Vulcan and half-Romulan. Romulans, Trekkies can inform you, are central villains of the “Star Trek” universe, and infrequently canoodle with Vulcans. Roddenberry claimed he did not just like the political implications of a Vulcan/Romulan character. As Bennett put it in Cinefantastique: 

“Gene is often a historic revisionist. […] He fought the character of Saavik savagely, saying you could not intermarry Vulcans and Romulans — that it was not attainable. It had by no means been executed.” 

Roddenberry had no points with aliens intermarrying generally — Spock, in spite of everything, was half-Vulcan and half-human — so he was possible expressing no matter objections he might towards a filmmaking group he resented. Nicholas Meyer remembers the Saavik controversy going all the best way again to the beginning

“I wrote the character of Saavik for ‘Star Trek II’ […] That wasn’t a Gene Roddenberry character. If he does not like what I am doing, then perhaps he ought to give the cash he is [making from my movies] again. Then perhaps I am going to care what he has to say.” 

Harsh, however truthful.