There are conflicting accounts as to why Kirstie Alley didn't return as Lt. Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was Alley's movie debut and Saavik was a major role opposite William Shatner's Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy's Spock. However, Robin Curtis replaced Alley as Saavik in Star Trek III and she played the Vulcan a second (and final) time in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Director Brian Volk-Weiss interviewed Kirstie Alley about Star Trek II for his History Channel docu-series, The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek. Alley spoke candidly about her time as Saavik in Star Trek II and she offered some fascinating insight into how she went about playing Spock's Vulcan protege. The Cheers actress told Volk-Weiss that she modeled herself after her idol, Vivien Leigh, and she imbued Saavik with the glamour of Gone With The Wind's star. This included insisting on wearing her hair down and appearing in a bathrobe in an elevator scene opposite William Shatner's Captain Kirk. Alley recalls that she was well-liked on The Wrath of Khan's set, particularly by director Nicholas Meyer, who allowed Alley to make the changes she wanted to Saavik's appearance.

However, Kirstie Alley believes that William Shatner was not as fond of her as the rest of the cast and crew and that Shatner was not excited to work with Alley again, possibly because the Captain Kirk actor felt upstaged by Saavik wearing a bathrobe in their elevator scene together. Alley suspects that Shatner's dislike of her led to Star Trek's producers offering her less money to return as Saavik for Star Trek III. Meanwhile, Alley had already booked a new job that conflicted with the production schedule of the Leonard Nimoy-directed Star Trek sequel, so Alley declined the offer to reprise her role as Saavik. Of course, Kirstie Alley went on to star as Rebecca Howe in Cheers and she became one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses on television.

Saavik Kirk

Contrasting Kirstie Alley's account, Leonard Nimoy told his version of why Lt. Saavik had to be recast for Star Trek III in his memoir, I Am Spock. According to Nimoy,he was very impressed with Alley's performance as Saavik and the movie's script was being written and they agreed upon a "reasonable" salary for her to return as Saavik. However, Alley's agent then requested a massive salary increase that Nimoy claimed was "so far beyond our reach that it left me slack-jawed."The original Spock actor added that "the salary [Kirstie Alley's agent] wanted... was higher than what was being paid to DeForest Kelley after seventeen years!"

Alley not returning as Saavik in Star Trek III ultimately came down to money. The actress' representative wanted far more for his client than what Paramount and Star Trek's producers were willing to pay, and Nimoy held firm that Alley priced herself out of the role: "We couldn't afford her." Star Trek III's director also claimed Alley's demand for more money was directly influenced by how big a role Lt. Saavik had in the film. Rather than cut Saavik's scenes, Nimoy and producer Harve Bennett decided to cast a different actress and they chose Robin Curtis.

Kirstie Alley and Star Trek ended up moving on from each other and each found great success regardless. While it's a shame that Kirstie Alley didn't play Saavik in the Vulcan's next two appearances, the actress' striking performance inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan remains a highlight in what many Trekkers feel is the best Star Trek movie of all. Still, Kirstie Alley's belief that William Shatner's perceived dislike for her factored into Alley receiving a lower offer from Paramount is a fascinating new wrinkle to why she didn't reprise Lt. Saavik for Star Trek III .

Next: Star Trek's New Vulcans Homage Spock & Undiscovered Country Villain Valeris