What's the deal with Saavik?

[Pauln6]

Vonda McIntyre's novelization differed from the on-screen versions in some very significant ways. There was a sub-plot that Saavik was tutoring Peter Preston in some subject and they were friends, so that's why she reacted as she did to his death, and later on she sat vigil over his body in the morgue (a custom on Hellguard to keep animals and thieves from disturbing the dead).

I would need to dig out the novels to see if there's a mention of the earring. Unfortunately, most of my Star Trek books are buried in large boxes and I can't get to most of them.


Oh, and about scripts... in my time when I worked in musical theatre, there are different kinds of scripts. I didn't get the ones including the songs (other than the bare lyrics) and the cast probably didn't get the ones with the lists of props and set pieces.

I always insisted on getting a script that included the basic dialogue and stage instructions, as I not only needed to know what stuff was needed, but who was going to use it, where, and how. Sometimes that made a hell of a difference in how it was made or what we bought.

The TWoK novel was one of my favorites because of the extra stuff on Saavik, Peter, Carol, David, and the Regulus I station. When they did the graphic novel I was very disappointed it was based on the movie and not the novel.

I think the STIII also has some inner dialogue for Saavik too, as she has some serious anger management issues. It's a real shame TWoK didn't add a brief scene to establish that Saavik was tutoring Peter in maths and a scene where she goes into a room on her own to let her anger out.

 

[Gavin70]

The TWoK novel was one of my favorites because of the extra stuff on Saavik, Peter, Carol, David, and the Regulus I station. When they did the graphic novel I was very disappointed it was based on the movie and not the novel.

I think the STIII also has some inner dialogue for Saavik too, as she has some serious anger management issues. It's a real shame TWoK didn't add a brief scene to establish that Saavik was tutoring Peter in maths and a scene where she goes into a room on her own to let her anger out.

Yeah TWOK is a great movie but they cut out a lot of character stuff that would have been great to see

 

[Green]

Saavik was never Valeris in any TWOK script.

 

[Kor]

Saavik was never Valeris in any TWOK script.

I think the reference was supposed to be Valeris originally being Saavik in TUC.

Kor

 

[TrickyDickie]

Saavik was never Valeris in any TWOK script.

There were MANY re-writes. As I stated, it was not even called TWOK for a while, at the beginning of the process.

 

[TrickyDickie]

I think the reference was supposed to be Valeris originally being Saavik in TUC.

Kor

Along the way, TPTB wanted Saavik, but when they brought Nick Meyer back to direct TUC, they allowed him to bring in Valeris and use the title, both of which he had wanted for the second film.

I had several of the earlier drafts of the scripts for TWOK, until I sold them a number of years ago.

 

[Green]

That's wrong, but whatever.

Wait! Are you telling me that Wrath of Khan was not even the original or only title for the second movie? Whoa -- that's crazy. I had never in the last 36 years ever heard that any name other than Wrath of Khan was considered. That alone is proof of your claim. There were previous drafts with different names? I'm sure Vareris must be in one of those drafts despite what Catrall and Meyer have stated.

 

[Kor]

I remember reading that Kim Cattral helped come up with the name "Valeris" when she came on board the TUC production.

Kor

 

[Green]

She did. She came up with "Eris" -- the goddess of strife. She thought that was appropriate to her character's role in TUC. Then they added "Val" part so it would seem more "Vulcan"
They probably should have made it "T'eris" if they had wanted to stay more traditional.

 

[Greg Cox]

That's wrong, but whatever.

Wait! Are you telling me that Wrath of Khan was not even the original or only title for the second movie? Whoa -- that's crazy. I had never in the last 36 years ever heard that any name other than Wrath of Khan was considered. That alone is proof of your claim. There were previous drafts with different names? I'm sure Vareris must be in one of those drafts despite what Catrall and Meyer have stated.

Rumor has it that at one point, ST II was going to be called THE VENGEANCE OF KHAN, but they changed it to avoid confusion with THE REVENGE OF THE JEDI, which was then retitled RETURN OF THE JEDI anyway.

But I believe Saavik was always Saavik as far as KHAN was concerned. Years later, however, Saavik was changed to Valeris for TUC.

 

[Green]

Other outlines and scripts for Star Trek 2 were....."War of the Generations", "The Genesis Project", "The Omega System", and of course, "The Undiscovered Country" and "Vengeance of Khan" as has been stated. Pretty cool how he whipped all those drafts and outlines and made such a good movie.

 

[FormerLurker]

"Vengeance of Khan" was the one that got pre-release posters. George Lucas is supposed to have raised a stink about the title due to "Revenge of the Jedi", which, once Vengeance became Wrath, he changed to Return just to thumb his nose at the older franchise.

 

[Green]

You really think he changed it to thumb his nose at Trek?

 

[TrickyDickie]

I delved deep into memory and I believe that one of the scripts had Star Trek: The Motion Picture II on the outside cover while the first page inside said Star Trek II: The Undiscovered Country.

I will chalk up the Valeris thing to an error of memory and move on.

 

[Kor]

"Vengeance of Khan" was the one that got pre-release posters. George Lucas is supposed to have raised a stink about the title due to "Revenge of the Jedi", which, once Vengeance became Wrath, he changed to Return just to thumb his nose at the older franchise.

The story I always heard was that he realized a Jedi would not seek revenge.

Kor

 

[Lance]

The way Valeris was introduced, with a scene of her quoting regulations and lots of knowing glances between the crew, it seems super obvious how they just went through the script and replaced her name and basically did very little else to distinguish the characters at all. It's a pity they didn't run with the idea of it being Saavik, because ultimately the sense of betrayal would have been a lot more powerful too.

 

[Green]

If Alley could have come back to the role it would have been great.

 

[mos6507]

If Alley could have come back to the role it would have been great.

Yes. A missed opportunity. But considering that the role had passed to Robin Curtis at least it spared her the indignity of being seen as a cheap standin.

 

[Green]

Well she has stated that she was disappointed in not even being asked -- so she kind of knows that she was.

 

[fireproof78]

"Vengeance of Khan" was the one that got pre-release posters. George Lucas is supposed to have raised a stink about the title due to "Revenge of the Jedi", which, once Vengeance became Wrath, he changed to Return just to thumb his nose at the older franchise.

No, I don't believe that is accurate. I could be wrong but I read that Meyer caught wind of "Revenge of the Jedi" when there was consideration for "Vengeance of Khan." He changed it to "Wrath" to avoid confusion.

Again, I could be misremembering but I saw that in one BTS books, either Meyer's or Nimoy's.