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Lt . Saavik , the Vulcan character initiate by Kirstie Alley , did n’t return inStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Countrydue to budgetary rationality and business concern about the film ’s report become her into a double-crosser . unloosen in December 1991,Star Trek VIwas the final metre the original casting ofStar Trekappeared together . In early drafts of the screenplay , this last reunion of theTOScrew was going to include Saavik , but alternatively , she was supervene upon by a young Vulcan , Lt . Valeris ( Kim Cattrall ) .
Saavik debuted inStar Trek II : The Wrath of Khanand Kirstie Alley ’s portrait proved memorable , especially how she was able to convincingly represent a Vulcan alongside Leonard Nimoy ’s Spock while also holding her own in scene with William Shatner ’s Captain James T. Kirk . Saavik returned inStar Trek III : The Search for Spockand Alley was conjecture to repeat her role , but negotiations give way over the actress ’s pay . or else , Saavik was remould with Robin Curtis put on the ears ; Curtis returned in short as Saavik in the spread scene ofStar Trek IV : The Voyage Home , but the Vulcan did n’t look inStar Trek V : The Final Frontier , and the luck of Saavik was never resolved .
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The original plans for Saavik inStar Trek VIinvolved Kirstie Alley reprize her role once more . Nicholas Meyer , who directedStar Trek II , was also helmingThe Undiscovered Countryand he wanted Alley back . Unfortunately , Kirstie Alley ’s asking price was beyond the means ofStar Trek VI ’s $ 30 - million budget ; at the time , Alley was the star ofCheerson NBC and she was one of television ’s highest - paid actress . Meyer was n’t a fan of Robin Curtis ' portrayal of Saavik and the producers , includingLeonard Nimoy , who had the originative vision forStar Trek VI , all check that it made no sentience to recast Saavik for the third clock time .
There was also disagreement as to Saavik ’s role inStar Trek VI ’s story . One early idea that was miss was for Kirk to fall in lovemaking with Saavik and they would have a fry together — a half - human / half - Vulcan echoing Spock . Another intimation was that would beSpock who fell in beloved with Saavik . However , withStar Trek VI ’s master tarradiddle revolving around the Klingons making peace with the United Federation of Planets , the net decisiveness made was that Saavik would be a traitor side with the machinator who feared what peace with the Federation ’s greatest foe would intend for the galaxy .
Star Trek ’s creatorGene Roddenberry , who was deathly sick by this point , mat that Saavik had attain " beloved character " position and that fan would object to her sell Kirk and Spock . Nicholas Meyer also came to the conclusion that the sports fan , who had n’t seen Saavik in years , would be upset to see her take back as a betrayer . Finally , the determination was made to jettison Saavik entirely and make a unexampled Vulcan character , which was the wisest course of action of action all things regard .
For her part , Kim Cattrall was thrilled to not only joinStar Trekbut to also have the opportunity to create Valeris from whole cloth . Cattrell helped name her character and she even shave the side of her head to make her Vulcan ears more outstanding . Thanks to her commitment to the part , Valeris became an instantly memorable and endearing character ; this made her betrayal of the Federation even more of a gut - lick since she was ab initio so likable andSpock take for her his successor . Meanwhile , Saavik in reality appears in the novelization ofStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country ; she is the recruiting policeman who initially revolutionize Valeris to join Starfleet .
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