Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was right to object to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country‘s initial idea to turn Lt. Saavik (Kirstie Alley/Robin Curtis) into a traitor, which resulted in the film creating a new character, Lt. Valeris (Kim Cattrall). In Star Trek VI, Valeris conspired with rogue Klingons, Romulans, and Starfleet Officers to prevent peace between the Klingon Empire and the United Federation of Planets. From her position aboard the USS Enterprise, Valeris enabled the conspiracy to frame Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) for the assassination of Klingon Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner).
During the production of Star Trek VI in 1991, a very ill Gene Roddenberry was still executive consultant of the Star Trek movies as well as exective producer of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Although Roddenberry had long since lost any real say in the movie franchise’s decision-making, he was still kept in the loop about Star Trek VI‘s development, and he was made aware of every element of the film’s story, including the initial plan to cast Lt. Saavik in the role of the Starfleet traitor. Roddenberry was reportedly furious at the idea of Saavik committing treason against the Federation, and especially betraying Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy). And Star Trek‘s creator was correct.
Roddenberry’s Objection Saved Saavik From Being Star Trek VI’s Vulcan Traitor
Gene Roddenberry fought against Star Trek VI‘s director Nicholas Mayer’s plan to make Saavik Star Trek VI‘s Vulcan traitor, and he objected on the grounds that Saavik had achieved “beloved character” status. Mayer argued that Saavik was a character he created for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and since she was not a Gene Roddenberry creation, he had every right to turn Saavik traitor if that’s what the movie’s story called for. However, Roddenberry got his way, and Saavik was saved. It turned out much better that Valeris was created for Star Trek VI because a character created from whole cloth allowed Mayer to have Valeris act as the story required, and it wouldn’t be “out of character”, as turning traitor would have been for Saavik.
There were other factors that led to Lt. Valeris replacing Lt. Saavik in Star Trek VI, however, and the most prevalent was money. In 1991, Kirstie Alley was the star of Cheers, and she was the highest-paid actress on television. Frankly, Star Trek VI couldn’t afford Alley reprising Saavik. Mayer and producer Leonard Nimoy also didn’t want to recast the role of Saavik a third time after Alley and Robin Curtis played the Vulcan, so creating Valeris instead was logical. This also allowed Mayer to cast Kim Cattrall as Valeris; the future Sex and the City star was actually Mayer’s original choice to play Saavik in Star Trek II but Cattrall was unavailable. As Valeris, Cattralll was excited to finally join Star Trek and play a new character. Kim would have turned the movie down if she’d been asked to be the third actress to play Saavik.
Why Roddenberry Was Right About Saavik In Star Trek VI
Although Saavik only made three canonical appearances in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Gene Roddenberry was right that Lt. Saavik was a character who was embraced and beloved. Star Trek fans likely would have rejected seeing Saavik turn traitor out of a misguided sense she was “protecting the Federation.” In turn, Lt. Valeris made a huge impact as a protégé of Spock who betrayed him, and even though Star Trek VI was her lone appearance, Valeris remains influential. Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ heroic Vulcan Lt. T’Lyn’s (Gabrielle Ruiz) look is based, in part, on Valeris’ hairstyle and signature headband.
Star Trek: Picard gave Saavik her due 37 years after she was last seen in Star Trek IV. Canonical backstory setting up Picard season 3 on Instagram revealed that Saavik was promoted to Captain in 2293, and the Vulcan was, in fact, the first Captain of the USS Titan. Further, the Titan was briefly the flagship of the Federation. This essentially made Saavik one of the most important Starfleet Captains of the late 23rd century era, thanks to Gene Roddenberry fighting to keep Saavik from going down in Star Trek history as a traitor.
