LT. Saavik The two paths

The late Kirstie Alley wanted more money to reprise the role of Saavik in part three, and the budget wasn’t there for it.  I am guessing Scientology pumped her ego up so much that she wanted to be paid as much as the main cast.  The producers had to scramble quickly to recast Saavik.  Robin Curtis’ Saavik is more Vulcan-like than Alley.  

To be fair to Alley, she was ordered to play Saavik with more emotion.  There was a dropped storyline where we would have discovered that Saavik was half Romulan and Vulcan.  Like many other subplots, it was cut out.  In ST: II, they also filmed a scene where Saavik flirted with David.  For me, I think Alley, in her prime, was as amazing and cute as Saavik.  However, Curtis brings a much deeper maturity to the role.  

Star Trek 4 would be her final appearance.  Yet, the story behind the scenes isn’t over.  The producers wanted to bring Saavik back for ST6, but Alley wanted even more money.  Those Scientology auditing courses aren’t going to pay for themselves.  She would have been Valeris’ role in the story, meaning Saavik would have been the turncoat.  Side note:  I forgot that there was a dropped storyline from ST4 where Saavik would be pregnant with Spock’s child.  

Also, the producers of TNG wanted to bring back Saavik for a non-speaking cameo for the popular episode Cause and Effect.  She would have been the Vulcan first officer standing beside Kelsey Grammer on the USS Bozeman.  Again, Alley wanted even more money.  

It is no wonder that Robin Curtis has a better relationship with Trek and the Trek fans than Alley.  Alley grew more hateful in her latter years.  Curtis was asked to be in TNG playing another “Vulcan”.  I’ve seen clips of her at conventions and she is a sweet person.  I am surprised Lower Decks hasn’t brought back Curtis for Saavik.